Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen with Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed (centre) at the International Conference on Autism and Neuro-developmental Disorders, Thimphu. Saima Wazed is the daughter of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and the chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders in Bangladesh.
Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the opening of a three-day International Conference on Autism and Neuro Developmental Disorders, at the Royal Banquet Hall, yesterday.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina was the guest of honor along with Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay.
Addressing over 300 participants at the Conference, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, called upon the governments around the world for more inclusive policies and programmes for people living with autism and neuro disorders.
She said no matter where on the spectrum they are, they all deserve to live in dignity and with love by people around them.
“Governments should make policies and programmes to ensure that no individual is neglected. They deserve to have the opportunity to participate in their country’s economic growth. It is the responsibility of all to make sure adequate social and medical support for individuals with autism and neuro-development disorders. Let’s commit ourselves to recognising their multi-faceted talents beyond the diagnosis of the disorder and enable them to live life with dignity and hope in our inclusive society.”
The Prime Minister said without a systematic framework for autism and other neuro-developmental disorders, service delivery cannot be effective, financially feasible or sustainable in the long run.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is often overlooked and misunderstood public health issue, affecting one in 160 people globally.
The WHO-SEARO Regional Director, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said this is partly due to stigma and fear associated with it and lack of awareness of what ASD is and how it can be managed.
“Positive change is needed both socially and systemically. ASD and other neuro disorders are responsible for impairment of personal, social, academic or occupational functioning. This brain function deficient can affect the person’s emotion and memory as they lack their ability to learn to socialise and maintain self-control. There is a lifelong disability marked by unemployment and social isolation.”
As per the WHO, poor infrastructure, shortage of trained professionals, lack of reliable data and evidence based interventions limit the support persons suffering from these disorders.
Meanwhile, studies over the past five decades suggest it may be one of the fastest growing among serious developmental disabilities.
The three days international conference covers six sessions including a high level discussion chaired by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Conference is hosted by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, with the technical support of Shuchona Foundation, Ability Bhutan Society, and the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office.
The Conference will provide a platform for policy-makers to engage with all stakeholders to solicit commitment for the implementation of international resolutions on autism and other neuro-developmental disorders.
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