Nigeria: FG and the Autism Centres
[This Day] The initiative on spectrum disorder is welcome
The Nigerian government has launched an initiative to improve care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, a significant step towards addressing the shortage of skilled professionals in related fields. According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the initiative involves expanded specialist training, targeted investments in tertiary institutions, and the establishment of autism centers across the country's six geopolitical zones.
This comes in response to recent findings that one in every 100 Nigerian children currently lives with autism, with about 2.4 million Nigerians affected by the health condition. While the figures are conservative, families face challenges as the national system has not been designed to support them, leading many to seek specialized care abroad.
The federal government is committed to changing this, urging other states to follow suit. Experts urge for autism to be integrated into primary healthcare, teacher training in neurodevelopmental disorders, and community-level awareness campaigns to break the stigma surrounding the condition.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
