Women and addiction: a hard-hitting campaign
La Maison des Femmes, with the support of the ARS, is launching a campaign to prevent addiction among women of childbearing age. The images are thought-provoking and the messages are powerful… with one aim: to raise awareness of a genuine public health issue.
The posters for this brand-new campaign were previewed on 24 April to partners and professionals by Aude Canale-Fatou, President of the Maison des Femmes, and her teams, in the presence of Paul Guibert, Regional Director of the ARS for the Northern Islands. This campaign stems from a simple fact: the rate of disabilities among children at birth is high and a cause for concern. It is a reality that the leading non-genetic cause of disability is alcohol. Here more than elsewhere, it is often consumed under social pressure. But it is not the only factor causing harm; risky behaviour does too, as does the use of substances such as cannabis, which is considered natural and therefore good for health. Health professionals remind us that alcohol and drugs have an impact on the unborn baby. Ideally, all consumption should cease as soon as one is planning to have a child.
A campaign that reflects the reality of the territory
The president of the Maison des femmes wanted a campaign that reflected Saint Martin. It was therefore developed in consultation with women from across the territory, from all walks of life, to create slogans that speak to every community. They took part in the creative process during a workshop, choosing the visuals and then the words – in Haitian Creole, English, Spanish and French – to formulate the slogans. These women, working as volunteers, shared their perspectives to create a campaign that takes into account the languages, cultures and realities of each community, in order to craft messages that are accessible yet powerful, and that speak to everyone, women and men alike. The posters will be distributed from May onwards, across the island, in shops, at healthcare professionals’ premises, in hospitals, as well as in bars and other social venues. They will also be shared on social media to reach young prospective parents in particular. Designed to reach audiences across the Caribbean and far beyond, the campaign will also be rolled out in Guadeloupe, this time in Guadeloupean Creole, as well as in all the Maisons des Femmes across France, and a few copies will be sent to the Minister for Overseas Territories at her request.
