“A clinic on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder will offer health services on a group of complex disorders of brain development,” said Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Douglas Mombeshora while marking World Autism Day on April 2.
“These disorders are characterised in varying degrees by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours, which include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorders and Aspergers syndrome,” he said.
He encouraged families of children with these problems to come forward, share their experiences and seek treatment.
“The Centre for Disease Control reported 11 people in 1,000 (1 in 88) and 1 in 54 boys as the global prevalence for autism. The figures are growing, but due to lack of awareness and social stigma in the condition seems to be less visible in Zimbabwe,” said the minister.
He urged parents to seek medical services when they notice that their child is showing unusual behaviour, such as failing to make eye contact, not responding to their name or playing with toys in repetitive ways.
“A diagnosis can open access to therapies and assistive technologies, behavioural and medical treatments that can improve overall quality of life,” Mombeshora said. “Scientific studies have demonstrated that early intensive behavioural intervention improves learning, communication and social skills in young children with autism.”
Speaking at the same occasion, the former Minister of Health, Timothy Stamps, testified that he had adopted a baby girl who was autistic 44 years ago, and with proper engagement and medical interventions she is now happily working in an authoritative position in Australia.
“When we first sent her to school the teachers rejected her saying that she could not learn. We took her to St Giles where she was diagnosed and the teachers there were very kind and patient with her. The environment in which the child grows is much more important than medication,” said Stamps.
He warned that every individual was at risk of suffering from some degree of autism with the advent of mobile phones and communication technology, which was reducing verbal communication.
Rose Raviro Sibanda, a member of the Pathways Autism Trust set up to lobby for the right of those suffering from autism, said frustration at the failure to communicate was a big problem.
“We have sleepless nights as the child hurts himself or others, making noise to an extent that your neighbours start to complain about the disturbance,” she said. “We appeal to the community to tolerate and understand children with such conditions. Our children are turned away from the mainstream education system and we appeal to schools to provide special classes with appropriate teachers,” she added.
Last week the Trust held a ‘Walk the Talk Campaign’ to raise awareness. “This was very successful and attended by medical associations, non-governmental organisations, diplomatic officials, government and the president’s office, individuals and churches,” said a founding trustee Flora Chinhaire.
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Keep up the good wrk Mr Dube