Saima Wazed Hossain has suggested taking concerted efforts in finding a locally designed and effective indigenous mechanism and diagnostic to manage autism that is appropriate for Asian culture.
Saima, also daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, observed that Asian countries were too dependent on western modules and therapies to manage autism.
The issues came up for discussion during her recent meetings with the Malaysian Minister for Women, Family and Community Development and the Minister for Health in Malaysia, according to a message received here from Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.She also exchanged views on the possibilities of knowledge sharing in the fields of autism management and education for autistic children between Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Both the Malaysian ministers expressed their readiness to cooperate with Bangladesh in this regard.
Saima also highlighted the need for advancement of Bangladesh in the intervention initiative since autism was not even a vocabulary and a few years back families with autistic children were stigmatised.
Earlier, she attended an international seminar on autism with the theme ‘Autism is not a Tragedy, Ignorance Is’ held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on April 22-23.
The seminar was designed to raise awareness on autism and to inspire societies to formulate action with local communities.
The seminar was organised jointly by Permata, Autism Speaks, New York and University Kebangsaan Malaysia.
The seminar was actively supported by Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and Ministry of Education, Malaysia.
Saima attended the seminar as the special representative of the Bangladesh Prime Minister. – UNB
