[Federal Register: August 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 159)]
[Notices]               
[Page 53588-53589]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16au02-97]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02111]

 
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Surveillance and Prevention Project 
in the Republic of South Africa (RSA); Notice of Award

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
award of $150,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2002 for a cooperative agreement 
program for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Surveillance and Prevention 
Project in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) with the Foundation for 
Alcohol Related Research (FARR) Project in collaboration with the 
National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and the University of 
Witwatersrand. The award is anticipated to begin in August 2002, with a 
12-month budget period within a project period of up to three years.
    The purpose of the program is to: (1) Develop an ongoing 
surveillance system for FAS; (2) estimate the prevalence of FAS in 
South African Provinces; (3) investigate and implement strategies for 
prevention; (4) complete needs assessments detailing the availability 
of and gaps in alcohol prevention and treatment services for women and 
intervention services for children; and (5) develop local epidemiology 
capacity through training of key study staff.
    The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) Project in 
collaboration with the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and 
the University of Witwatersrand is the most appropriate and qualified 
agency to conduct activities under this Cooperative Agreement because:
    1. FARR is the only organization in South Africa that can perform 
this activity. They are recognized by the South African National 
Department of Health as the only organization doing FAS epidemiologic 
research.
    2. FARR was established in 1996 as a non-government (97/
00190/08) organization (NGO) whose mission is the prevention of FAS 
through surveillance, training, clinical diagnostic services, and 
epidemiological research.
    3. The FARR leadership was the first to identify children with FAS 
in South Africa and bring international attention to the extent of the 
problem there.
    4. FARR's goals and objectives are to prevent FAS through the 
exchange of information, enabling collaborative

[[Page 53589]]

research, consultation and assistance to health care providers in the 
nine provinces. They have trained health care providers in all 
provinces and continue to develop surveillance systems to monitor 
trends and evaluate prevention efforts. FARR has five specific aims in 
its charter: (1) To evaluate the pathogenesis of FAS in at-risk South 
African communities; (2) to investigate the prevalence, psychosocial 
factors and disabilities associated with FAS; (3) evaluate the costs of 
FAS to exchequer of South Africa; (4) to set up prevention/intervention 
programmes in order to lessen the frequency of FAS, reduce the 
prevalence of alcohol abuse, prevent secondary disabilities, and 
educate the public on the dangers of alcohol-abuse during pregnancy; 
and (5) to increase capacity, expertise and knowledge of FAS in health 
professionals and the general public.

B. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To obtain business management technical assistance, contact: 
Cynthia Collins, Contracts and Grants Management Specialist, 
International & Territories Acquisition & Assistance Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-
4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2757, E-mail address: coc9@cdc.gov.
    Program technical assistance may be obtained from: Karen Hymbaugh, 
Telephone: (770) 488-7373, E-mail address: kxh5@cdc.gov or Connie 
Granoff, Telephone: (770) 488-7513, E-mail address: clg4@cdc.gov, 
National Center on Birth Defects & Developmental Disabilities, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway NE., 
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724.

    Dated: August 7, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-20812 Filed 8-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P