Autistic children’s numbers unknown: Saima
Saima Wazed Putul speaks at a meet-the-press at BSMMU. Photo: PID
The government has launched a survey on children with disabilities, including autism, so that it can take effective measures to improve their lives, Saima Wazed Putul, a school psychologist, said at a meet-the-press yesterday.
The country is still to know how many autistic children are there, and it is a great obstacle to taking steps for providing medication and rehabilitation to these children, she said, stressing collective efforts of government and non-government organisations in this regard.
Ranjit Kumar Biswas, secretary to the social welfare ministry, said the government was to formulate a law, "Rights of the persons with disabilities", as the existing law dealing with challenged people did not completely live up to the expectations of parents of autistic children.
The government has taken a series of initiatives following the 2011 regional autism conference, convened by Saima Wazed, also daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Prof Pran Gopal Datta, vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The government has also involved five ministries--social welfare, education, health, and primary and mass education--to deal the issue comprehensively, he said, adding that it also prepared a situation analysis paper to find things to do regarding this.
Prof Datta also said a national advisory committee had also been formed with Saima Wazed as the chairperson, and four projects had been undertaken to conduct schools and render medical facility for autistic children.
Social Welfare Minister Enamul Hoque Mostofa Shaheed said the guardians of autistic children often hide the disability, fearing social stigma and making survey difficult to conduct.
The speakers unanimously laid emphasis on creating awareness on autism, which is a complex developmental disability and has no medical cure. However, if detected early, it can be controlled and improved through therapy, proper teaching, they said.
State Minster for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, among others, attended the press conference held at BSMMU.
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