Guidelines, training to better identify autism spectrum – Health Minister

…as Ministry focuses on early detection, support
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has disclosed that the Government is training professionals to better identify children on the autism spectrum so they can receive the care they need.

“Another area that we’re expanding our focus on is in the area of autism because we have children; sometimes, we don’t diagnose them on time,” Dr Anthony said during an event on Wednesday. “But we now have, for the first time in the country, two child psychiatrists, and we have other persons who are training to identify people on the autistic spectrum.”
“We have just concluded guidelines with Mount Sinai’s assistance, and very soon we will be rolling out those guidelines, training our caregivers and primary care doctors so that they can identify people early, and if they determine that this child is on the spectrum, then we want to put them in programmes that’s going to be beneficial for them,” the minister added.
According to the National Commission on Disability (NCD) in Guyana, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects the nerves and is caused by complex genetic and environmental factors that come together to change the brain’s development.
“This fosters a deficit in social communication and interaction, which brings about gaps between educating communities, along acceptance and inclusion of persons who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is imperative to note that fostering good environments in which persons are grown and nurtured is paramount,” the NCD noted.
On its website, it highlighted that in the United States, the prevalence of autism is one in every fifty-four children, whereas in the Caribbean, the prevalence of autism is eleven in every one thousand children.
“Research has shown that this condition occurs more often in boys than girls, and early symptoms may include a marked delay in language and social development. To be diagnosed with autism, a person must show symptoms in the areas of difficulties with communication and social interaction and restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities,” the NCD also noted.
The NCD also outlined that in Guyana, the prevalence of autism varies by region, with Region Four recording the highest number of persons. “This may be because this region is the most populated,” it noted, adding that research has also shown that Region Three, followed by Regions Six, 10, Five, and Two, have recorded cases of autism.
“Further, there are still yet to be published actual cases of children with autism in Regions Eight, Nine, and One (National Household Survey on Persons with Disabilities NHSPWD – National Commission on Disability, 2016),” the commission said.
In January, the then Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had announced that the Government is designing the country’s first school which would cater specifically to autistic learners.