Saima calls for adopting multi-sectorial programmes for autism

Saima Wazed Hossain, chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neuro developmental Disorders, has called for adopting a multi-sectorial life span approach to create a more cost-effective, sustainable and supportive programme catering to families` needs to address autism issues.

“There is no easily addressed solution to autism which could be implemented by altering existing medical practices. Instead, a multi sectorial life span approach would be required to create a more cost-effective, sustainable and supportive program catering to families` needs,” she wrote in an article published in Inter Press Service (IPS), a global news agency, on Friday.

This article is part of a series of stories and op-eds issued by IPS on the occasion of this year`s World Autism Awareness Day to be observed on April 2.

Daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Saima is a specialist in School Psychology and a member of the World Health Organization`s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.

In the article, she urged the developing countries to devise a mechanism to face the challenges of providing further knowledge on effective and sustainable programs and assist in decision making.

She said due to the high cost and copyright laws, many programmes in low-resource countries remain similarly isolated and unshared. Moreover, programmes requiring linkages between existing infrastructures and inter and intra-disciplinary collaboration are a particular challenge for developing countries, she added.

“Hence why we urgently need a mechanism by which the challenges and success stories of these individuals can be shared among both disability organizations and governments so it may provide further knowledge on effective, sustainable programmes and assist in decision making,” she said.

Saima said global awareness and enhanced understanding of autism has resulted in increased diagnosis, demand for treatment and development of innovative approaches, many of which remain isolated to research settings or unpublishable in scientific journals.

She said the complexity of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) pose a significant challenge when trying to balance the development of medical services while creating socioeconomic opportunities for an individual`s unique skillset. The primary task of mitigating the tremendous emotional, social and financial ordeal for families remains a persistent challenge.

This April, Saima said, Shuchona Foundation with WHO-SEARO is paving the way towards implementation of international resolutions on autism by organizing a conference in Bhutan for the ministries of Health and Family Welfare of Bhutan and Bangladesh.

She said experts, self-advocates, caregivers and policymakers will meet for three days in Thimphu (visit www.ANDD2017.org) to discuss identification and interventions methods, issues on education and employment and help develop a collaborative comprehensive plan for low-resource settings that all countries can emulate.

“Within the last five years, thanks to political support and national education, autism awareness in Bangladesh has grown immensely,” she said.

Source: BSS