By Fazeena Saleem
Doha: The Ministry of Public Health is set to launch a National Autism Plan by the end of the year to support children with the disorder and provide them with opportunities to lead a comfortable life. Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari speaking at a recently held workshop said that the National Autism Plan addresses concerns about rising rates of diagnoses and to develop tailored services, support and education to meet local needs. “The impact on families caring for children with autism is significant and we are committed to finding ways to improve the lives of these children and their families,” she said.
The Qatar Autism Families Association of more than 200 parents of children with autism have been an important driving force behind the National Autism Plan.
The Chair of Qatar Autism Families Association Fatima Al Sulaiti said, “Even though autism is a lifelong condition, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to our children’s life.”
Experts from WHO at the workshop presented opportunities to improve care and services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, which they identified during their consultation visit to Qatar.
In Qatar, as worldwide, more individuals are being recognised as having ASD, which affects the way individuals relate to people, situations and their immediate environment. The term ‘Autism Spectrum’ is used because people are affected differently by this lifelong condition, and to varying degrees. WHO experts Dr Maria-Luisa Scattoni, Researcher at the Institute of Health in Rome, and Prof Helen McConachie, Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Health and Society at Newcastle University (UK), highlighted the opportunities to improve services available in Qatar.
“International rates say that about one in 68 children has been identified with ASD and in Qatar, our consultations showed the need for more services and support. Qatar has the potential to make a difference by aligning existing services and improving the accessibility of education and support for these children and their families,” the experts said.
The Peninsula
