30.3.16
Eighth annual “World Autism Awareness Day” falls on 2nd April 2016.
“Autism” is a medical condition that
occurs due to an abnormal brain development, and affects how a person
communicates and relates to other people. People with Autism understand
and reacts to the social environment around them in a different manner
to others. Autism and related conditions are caused by a change in the
way how the nerve cells in the brain develop and mature. In Sri Lanka 1
percent children out of the annual new born children (approx. 3,750) are
vulnerable for “Autism Spectrum Disorders”.
Director General of Health Services
Palitha Mahipala addressing the Medial seminar held yesterday (29th
March) at the Health Education Bureau said that the Ministry of Health
together with the government has initiated programs to raise the
awareness among the public and to control the “Autism” in Sri Lanka.
Extending the Child Mental Health Units
established in the general hospitals, appointing the community child
specialists for each district to enhance the health facilities will be
some of these steps. In addition to the health clinics for children,
centres for training these children will also be established
district-wise where the first one is in Mulleriyawa mental health
hospital.
According to the Dr. Mahipala the lack
of the Child mental health specialists will be fulfilled soon and this
issue has already been discussed with the Post-Graduate Institute.
Prof. Harendra De Silva, Dr. Chithamalee De Silva, Dr. Swarna Wijethunga, Dr. Neil Thalagala were also present at the event.
World Autism Awareness Day proclaimed by the United Nations is celebrated since 2008 throughout the world.
-news.lk
