Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter and autism movement leader Sheikh Saima Wazed Putul has called for global awareness against autism.
Speaking as a panelist at a seminar at the United Nations headquarters in New York, she suggested giving special attention from family level to the global level to cure autism problems. The UN organized the seminar on April 1, marking World Autism Day 2014, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh permanent mission to UN.
Bangladesh Permanent Representative to UN, Dr. AK Abdul Momen presided over the inaugural session of the seminar. Qatar Permanent Representative Alia Ahmed Sayeef Al-Tahni, Indian Permanent Representative Ashok Kumar Mukharjee, US Permanent Representative Elizabeth Cousens, Nigerian Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Sarki, UN Secretary General Office Chief Susana Malkora and Autism Speaks Co-founder Sujan Right also spoke on the occasion as panelists.
Putul, who is also chairperson of national advisory committee of Autism Public Health Initiative in Bangladesh, highlighted various steps taken by Bangladesh government for autism movement.
Presenting a picture of autism in the world, she said one person in every 88 in the United States and a total of 70 million people in the world are currently suffering from autism.
The prevalence of autism in children is more compared to AIDS, diabetes and cancer, she said, adding the autism-affected people need multiple assistances.
She urged the global community to come forward in aid of the mentally challenged people responding to the proposal of Bangladesh.
In his presidential speech, Dr. Momen presented a seven-point proposal to protect autistic children.
In a message on the occasion of the function, UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon urged all country to stand beside the autistic children.
