Nordic Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue for this year’s StemRx and Mall of Fame Nigeria training and workshop summit for “Special needs care including children and adult autism programme was filled to capacity. The audience gathered for StemRx’s initiatives for community developments programmes on child healthcare.
It is an advocacy programme designed to support people with developmental disabilities and special needs, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
The programme was organized by Brainfoods in conjunction with Stem Rx and Mall of Fame, with the theme: “Special needs care including children and adults: the role of family and the community”, parents, care givers, experts in neurology, pediatricians, and those with the disorder came around to know how family and the community can influence the disorder. The programme was free and fully funded
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and tendency to engage in repetitive behaviours. However, symptoms and their severity vary widely across these three core areas. Autism is a range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and non-verbal communication, as well as unique strengths and differences
Experts and concerned parents at the summit called on the government to provide facilities for the management of children suffering from autism.
They urged Nigerians to show understanding with patients and offer psychological support for families with children having autism.
Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, managing director of StemRX; Andelene Thysse, director, and Ijeoma Ugwu, a public health nutritionist, offered a full understanding of the disease.
Mahajan, a general surgeon and consultant on cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD/ADD, developmental disorders child and adolescent psychiatry, discussed the epidemiology and distribution patterns in various population.
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Thysse spoke on Africa impact and overview on the advance medical treatment, Ugwu, a consultant on Ace Autism nutritionist, discussed advanced nutrition application and recommendations for parents while Olugbenga Komolafe, dwelt on the CSR impact and road map of the project.
The discussants said although the cause of the disease was unknown, with no cure yet, autism children and their families need support from government and society.
Lamenting that facilities and support for the patients and families are almost non-existent, the medical experts urged the government to create special sections in schools for the children and come up with legislation that can help autistic children function better in the society.
The policies, according to them, may include free accommodation, financial support, subsidising medical bills and even outlawing discrimination against children with autism as done in many countries in Europe and the United States of America (USA).
Mahajan explained that cases of autism are increasing among Blacks living in Europe according to findings, stressing that statistics show that there are an average of 60 in 100,000 children in most countries with most sufferers being boys.
He enjoined the government to ensure schools and hospitals make provisions for them to help them function well and help their parents get respite from the stress of caring for them round the clock.
Thysse and Ugwu posited that no single intervention is the best, adding that the specific nature and needs of each child determine the intervention that will be appropriate.
They listed popular interventions to include psycho-education, respite for parents, support groups, schools and community help.
One of the parents at the summit, Mrs Adeoye Babalola, lauding the discussions as vibrant, she recalled that there was nothing like autism when she was an undergraduate at the College of Medicine about 40 years ago.
“But I have been enlightened. Many parents are battling with autistic children in Nigeria,” she said.
Many were given free one-on-one consultations facilitated by health professionals across a wide range of developmental specialists.
These consultations provided parents and caregivers with knowledge on how best to help their children make easier transition from childhood to adulthood, so as to grow into responsible citizens that can contribute their quota to national development