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Cameroon: Autism Needs Attention
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008
Effa Tambenkongho
The Ministries of Social Affairs, Health and Basic Education must collaborate to rescue Autistic Children in Cameroon.
They may be grown ups but still behave awful, because they are either retarded in one way or the other. Some times they walk with the mouth open and spit runs down continuously. In class they are absent minded. From their look even there is an element of deformity noticed. In spite of these defects they still remain normal human beings like others who do not suffer these abnormalities.
These are autistics children. Autism is a new phenomenon in Cameroon. Most parents in the past use to hide such children in the room; some thought it was witchcraft or demonism so they took their children to witch doctors and sometimes ended up in the streets. Have you ever come across a man in the streets whom people say "he is a fool?", he might have been autistic and abandoned.
This is a handicapped situation which happens in the psychology of the person. The cause of autism is not really known but medical personnel say it has to do with gene mutation. Medically, it can not be treated but continuous training and attention will help the child grow.
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During the celebration of the International Day of Autism, spearheaded by, Centre Orchidée Home in collaboration with Léa pour Samy an organisation which is the voice of autistic children, a film was projected at the Municipal Hall in Bonanjo, Douala. The film entitled "Autism behind the curtains," produced by Olivier Enogo, was to encourage parents who have autistic children to fight hard because the life of these children depends on then. In the film, parents with autistic children in other countries gave their situation on how they are coping and pushing on. Some of the mothers even shed tears because taking care of such children is very expensive and the child needs plenty of attention. Autism has no cure but there is a way forward, they were encouraged.
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