Dr David Shepherd of Halls Creek Hospital's told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "We've got ... mothers on the ward here now who are 13, 14-year-old mothers who are fetal alcohol syndrome kids and so they have learning difficulties and problems interacting with people and now they've got their own kids - and it's quite sad.”
Lorain Hayes, associate lecture in public health at the University of Queensland, said she had observed five-year-old kids consuming liquor. "It doesn't surprise me at all," she said.
There is some subjective evidence that points to the fact that nearly 30 percent of babies born in Halls Creek are victims of alcohol abuse in the womb. This has created quite a stir, with residents clamoring for strict measures to combat the problem of alcohol, including clamping of prohibition.
Robyn Long, the administrator of Halls Creek Hospital, said the alcohol problem in the town of 1,300 people was grave. "We need the alcohol to stop so people can have sober brains to think about what they're doing and bring up their kids."
FAS is a permanent condition that can occur in a newborn if a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. It's often characterized by abnormal facial features, growth retardation, and central nervous system problems. Besides physical disabilities, kids with FAS find it difficult to cope with learning, memory, attention, and problem solving.
The effect of alcoholism on the new generation is very sad indeed. The government and medical authorities need to get their act together to work out a proper way of dealing with the problem at hand. There is a need for exposure through education and the ban of all booze before anything will start to change.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin's office and public health administrators are calling on the Kimberley community of Halls Creek to ban the sale of alcohol.
A spokeswoman for Ms Macklin declared that the Australian government favors tough restrictions on alcohol consumption. "Alcohol abuse has inflicted a horrific level of damage in indigenous communities."
She stated that the federal government was doing its utmost to tackle the problem. It had provided $8.7 million for drug, alcohol and mental health services in Kimberly and another $2.53 million for the development of a rehabilitation center in Wyndham.
"We are determined to take every measure we can to turn around the shocking level of neglect and abuse in many remote Kimberley indigenous communities," the spokeswoman said.
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