(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Autism research conducted by The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) was presented at the International Conference on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ANDD2017) in Thimphu, Bhutan, recently.
Dr Muhammad Waqar Azeem, chair of psychiatry at Sidra Medical and Research Centre (Sidra), and academic co-chair of WISH 2016 forum on Autism, moderated a session titled ‘Supported Independent Living', one of the core subjects of the WISH 2016 report, ‘Autism: A Global Framework for Action', co-authored by Dr Azeem.
Dr Azeem said, 'Policymakers must focus on educating the public on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as support early detection and diagnosis, ensuring that children with ASD and their caregivers have access to evidence-based therapies and other support in the community.
The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and World Health Organization (WHO). Health ministers from the South-East Asia region, international experts, individuals with autism and their caregivers, legislators, bureaucrats, and representatives from civil society attended the conference.
'Qatar is quickly becoming a net-exporter of best practice in healthcare policy. Other countries are increasingly looking to Qatar to learn from its progressive health policies, with Autism being a perfect example. Just last week, Qatar joined a small minority of nations globally to launch a comprehensive national strategy for ASD. We are delighted that Dr Waqar is carrying the message of broad support for people with autism to new audiences and that the WISH report helps inform the decisions of policymakers at the highest level worldwide, said Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH.
The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for policymakers to engage with experts and stakeholders in sharing knowledge and best practices on autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. It also provided an opportunity to learn ways to align country specific strategies with sustainable development goals, as well as promote cooperation and partnerships between nations.
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