CADD minister chairs meeting for establishment of Autism Centre

ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (INP): Minister of State Barrister Usman Ibrahim of Capital Administration & Development Division chaired a meeting regarding the Establishment of Autism Centre at CADD on Wednesday. Minister of State directed the officials to make a committee comprising of Joint Secretary Health, Director NIRM and Dr. Rafat Hafeez to establish an Autism Centre in Islamabad. Committee would prepare the initial proposal in which the cost and budgeting would be finalized along with the requirement of infrastructure for the centre, and would submit it to the Minister of State (CADD) on Monday 10th Nov, 2014. Autistic Syndrome Disorder commonly known as ASD is one of the rarest syndromes in which a child with high intellect and a normal IQ level is unable to lead an independent life. There are around 400-500 children including classic ASDs patients to minor ASDs patients in ISB, which need to be taken care of, stated the State Minister. Further he added that these children have as much right to spend a normal and healthy life as any other normal child. Such children are way different from mentally retarded children because of having high intellect level. Although they are slow to react, they don?t make eye contact, they through tantrums and show their anger due to low confidence level, they have OCD problem as well, in severe cases absence of speech, behavioral disorder and aggression is also found in such kids. Many projects get shelved because they are very ambitious therefore we would initiate this project as a pilot project initially as to see its success rate, emphasized the Minister of State. We would not have to face any hurdles of fundings as it would be a joint effort of the CADD, NIRM and Baitul mal. Moreover he said that initially we would arrange the space, equipments, and medical staff for the centre ourselves and on a later stage international donor agencies would be involved after monitoring the success rate of the project.        Meeting was attended by the Secretary CADD, Joint Secretary (Health) CADD, Joint Secretary (SW&SE) CADD, Director General Development, Director NIRM and Dr. Rafat.  INP