Newsroom
Former Health Minister Dr Shane Reti made significant progress putting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder back on the map. For the sake of generations of children born with this disability we need the new minister, Simeon Brown, to continue to take positive action.
The FASD community in New Zealand is saddened by Reti’s recent sacking as he was the only minister of health to take this lifelong, highly prevalent disability seriously. He mentioned himself that giving recognition to the disorder was one of his proudest achievements in the short time the was health minister.
FASD is a lifelong disability affecting at least 3-5 percent of New Zealanders, with about 60,000 children at any one time potentially needing help for a range of issues that affect executive functioning, living, social and communication skills and emotional regulation. Sadly, most people with this disorder go undiagnosed because of a lack of recognition and resources.
