Lagos — ON April 2, 2008, the world marked the first commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day - an important initiative spearheaded by the State of Qatar, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, the Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, in raising awareness about children with developmental disabilities.

It was a day the United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities - a commitment rooted in fundamental principle of universal human rights for all.

Autistic children are sometimes called children of pain. In some parts of the country they are often regarded as being "evil" or possessed by animals or spirits. But this is far from truth even if autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the world.

Children with severe learning difficulties, at the Daughters of Charity Hospital and School, Kubwa, Abuja.

Worldwide more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes, cancer and AIDS combined. It is a disorder that is present in all races and classes of people. About 35 million people world wide are known to the on the autism spectrum. Worse still, every 20 minutes, a child is diagnosed with autism, equivalent to about 30 children daily.

Global prevalence and other facts about autism are frightening. A disorder that affects as many as one in 150 children and 1 in 94 boys, current projections indicate a risk of that the prevalence may be going towards 1 in 50 in 10 years.

Coordinating the activities for the WAAD, Defeat Autism In Nigeria (DAIN) - a non-governmental organisation that has at the forefront Mr. Chidi Izuwah described DAIN as an idea that drives to bring together the works of all autism service providers in Nigeria.

Noting that the event was madeof relentlessly advocating for the welfare of autistic children in Nigeria. On the occasion during which DAIN was officially launched in Abuja, Chairman of the organisation, possible through the UN Gen Assembly's resolution 62/139 declaring the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), Izuwah said objectives of WAAD was to create awareness of autism world wide by encouraging stakeholders to observe the day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of autism while taking measures to raise awareness throughout society, including at family level, regarding children with autism.

Quoting the UN Secretary General's observation on the International Day of Families he said "Society has a responsibility to persons with disabilities and their families....let us dedicate ourselves to enabling the family, the most basic unit of society to fulfil its role in ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy full human rights with dignity and flourish as individuals."

Continuing, he said; "As we advance the universal human rights of children with disabilities, let us focus on building enabling environments for them to prosper as future members of their communities, citizens of their countries and as fully-fledged members of the global community.

Let us pay tribute to the courage of children with autism and their families, as they strive every day to confront the disability with a powerful combination of determination, creativity and hope. Let us empower them and respond to their needs today, so as to make our societies more accessible, enabling and empowering for all our children tomorrow.

In addition to creating autism awareness, the Defeat Autism In Nigerian project aims to work hard with the Federal government and the National Assembly to ensure that a Combat Autism and an Expanded Promise for Individuals Living with Autism Laws as has been passed in other countries is passed in Nigeria.

"By doing this we expect that autism will be formally declared a threat to the life of the Nigerian child and future of the country. This will make it mandatory for every predisposed Nigerian child to be screened for autism before his/her second birthday.

It is expected that Federal and State Ministries of Health will be required to provide autism care facilities while the National Assembly appropriates sufficient funding to support these facilities.

Other expectations are for mandatory funding for NGOs providing National Autism Support; establishment of a national autism research centre for excellence; world Class Autism Hospice and School for Autism in 6 regional centres in Nigeria; importation of Biomedical Autism Care supplements are duty/tax free and that the National Broadcasting Commission makes it mandatory that media organizations create PSA slots and 30 per cent of this is directed towards creating autism awareness, amongst others.

Furthermore, we would also want to ensure that the Federal Government/National Assembly collaborates with the US Congress to ensure that Nigeria is a pioneer beneficiary of the Global Autism Assistance Act making its way through the US Congress now.

"Defeating Autism In Nigeria is about the future and welfare of the Nigerian child is a responsibility squarely placed on government by the constitution. Autism is not the fault of parents, it is no social disease- it should have no stigma; therefore there is no need to hide your child or hide the condition or live in denial."

In her contribution, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC). Prof. Dora Akunyili stated In her submission noted that autism is a type of a class of disorders known as pervasive developmental disabilities (PDDs) and as the name suggests, PDDs are pervasive and affect many aspects of a child's development, especially social and communication skills.

Akunyili explained that autism can impact a person's functioning at different levels, from very mildly to severely. .

She further stated that "NAFDAC recognizes that children and adults with autism often present with nutritional issues such as restricted food choices and unusual food sensitivity and preferences Her words, "There are cases of lactose intolerance, celiac diseases and allergies which are difficult to deal with in children with autism since they already have limited food preferences.

It has also been brought to our attention that majority of children with autism who are on special diet. Such as gluten- free- casein -free diet, rely solely on imported food alternatives to meet their nutritional needs"

In view of this, according to Akunyili, NAFDAC is willing to work with relevant autism organizations to ensure that such foods or nutritional supplements are readily available for the care and management of these children. You can be rest assured that NAFDAC will support every effort that will aid the early detection of autism and its management so as to enhance these children's ability to live normal lives."

Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs and social Development, Hajia Sadautu Bungudu noted that autism is treatable added that early intervention is the key in view of the challenges facing autistic children in Nigeria.

Condemning the attitude of some parents of autistic children, Bungudu called for more public awareness on the issue concerning autistic children as part of strategies to towards ensuring the protection rights of vulnerable children.

She said the ministry would be glad to work with and support partners in implementing cost effective and sustainable programmes aimed at providing enabling environment for the holistic development of the Nigerian child.

She said Federal government was committed to the well being of children by signing the Child Rights Acts, which she said is the legal basis for upholding the principles of Rights of the child.

Bungudu also announced that her ministry has developed a National Child Policy and implementation guidelines and a five- year costed National Plan of Action (NPA) as well as the National Guidelines and Standard of practice (SOP) in a renewed effort to effectively ensure a coordinated National response on Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

She said the implementation of the NPA has since commenced and it is believed that the programmes and services initiated would to some extent address the needs of autistic children in Nigeria.

After autism was first identified in 1943, some of the first studies found most of the children mentally retarded. Essentially, diagnosing autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a group of brain-based disorders that become apparent in early childhood, is often no simple task for a number of reasons.

With no medical tests available, diagnosis always requires careful observation and screening.

No specific medical tests are available so the diagnosis is made based on the observations of parents, physicians, and others, along with assessments of developmental progress.

Further complicating things, autism is often accompanied by other problems, such as gastrointestinal ailments, hearing impairment, or behaviour problems. Autism often comes with something else.

The age of diagnosis varies greatly. In some children, the disorder is apparent at 18 months. With other children, diagnosis may not be confirmed until age five or so.

Diagnosis requires two steps, according to the CDC. These are developmental screening and surveillance during well-child visits to the doctor. Screening tests to look for developmental disabilities and to be sure the child has met developmental "milestones" such as talking and walking are recommended at ages nine months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months.

The screenings are done routinely; if not, parents are advised to ask for them during the well-child visits. The screening helps the child's pediatrician identify possible developmental delays that might suggest autism or such problems as language or thinking skill deficits.

In recent years, screening tools have been developed to better identify children not just with classic autism but with milder forms.

Second is a comprehensive evaluation, including observations by the pediatrician and interviews with parents to find out more about their child's developmental history. It should also include assessment of language and speech and the use of one or more autism diagnostic tools. Among them are the Autism Diagnosis Interview, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale.