Two-day autism awareness campaign launched

Cameroon will join the rest of the world Thursday, April 2 to celebrate the 8th International Day of autism awareness.

Prior to this important event which will be placed under the high patronage of Mrs. Chantal Biya, first lady of Cameroon and Unesco goodwill Ambassador of and the higher education Minister, Jacques Fame Ndongo who will presided over the kickoff of the Conference inaugurating the 9th edition of the campaign against this disorder. The campaign will go with the theme of the Conference: "Autism, understand to better manage behavioural problems."

Present at the launched were Habissou Bidoung, Secretary general of the Chantal Biya Foundation (which housed the ceremony), Vice-President of CERAC, Marcie Niat, Minister of Public Health André Mama Fouda and many other personalities.

From the onset Minesup said that, "this sponsorship is proof of the personal involvement of Mrs Chantal Biya in the fight for the well-being of all peoples without discrimination."

Indeed, this disorder which poses a set of medical, social and educational problems, is not widely known to the general public and even specialists. And yet, every day, every year, new patients are recorded in complex cases.

As explained by Marie Melanie Bell, Director of Centre Orchid Home, nearly 3,000 children born with autism are recorded each year in Cameroon.

Reason why, the Cameroonian day of autism are focusing on training, development and recycling of professionals involved in the field: doctors, therapists, psychotherapists, psychopathologists, psychologists, parents and caregivers of children in distress structures.

According the Minesup, "an autistic is not a person that society should reject. Instead, we must understand the causes and its symptoms to better treat them. And Marie Melanie Bell added: "we want to educate parents of such not to panic but diagnose these disorders, so the child can learn and have a meaningful life.

"Minesup wished that "exchanges generate concrete proposals so that the understanding of autism allows, more than in the past, to better manage the behavioural problems of the sick. "The work will be closed tomorrow at the Chantal Biya Foundation.