National Autism Plan Launched by Prime Minister

The National Autism Plan 2017-2021 was launched on Monday by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani in a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel. 

An important driving force behind the plan was the Qatar Autism Families Association of more than 200 parents of children with autism. The plan aims to improve the lives of those suffering from autism, and help their family’s to do so as well.

According to experts, between 3000 and 500 people under the age of 18 suffer from autism in Qatar, and the country has seen an increasing demand for available services over the past few years. Developing sufficient general and professional support for those with autism is a central aim of the plan.

Associations and care centers for autism have sprung up in the country as awareness has increased. An example: The Division of Developmental Pediatrics (DDP) and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry clinics at Sidra that provide family-centered care for children with autism. 

The Division Chief for the DDP, and co-author of the National Autism Plan, Dr. Fatima Janjua, has expressed how satisfied she was with those who helped create and consolidate the national plan.

She expressed how gratified she was, “to work with so many experienced and knowledgeable colleagues from different institutions, all fully committed to establish modern, evidence based, comprehensive and family centred autism services in Qatar.” 

As knowledge of this condition has grown, increased efforts to reach out and support those who suffer from it have ensued in Qatar.

Photo Credit: Qatar News Agency