A Non-governmental Organisation, Ike Foundation for Autism (IFA), in partnership with Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation (FEMHF) and KADA Foundation has embarked on a road work exercise to raise awareness on Autism to mark the 2023 World Autism Day.
April 5th, a day set aside by the United Nations in 2007 to advocate for and create awareness on autism, had it’s first engagement in 2008 basically to bring voice together for the course and create awareness on autism related matters.
The road work exercise which began at the Unity Fountain in the central area of Abuja terminated at the Federal Secretariat
Movie Francis Okoh, director of Ike Foundation for Autism, an NG0 established in 2008 to give care to those affected by the condition, during an interview, said that there are 4 operational pillars they use as tools for engagement which are under the acronym of HEAL with H – standing for Health which focuses on medical referral, assessment and diagnosis. “We do this in partnership with the ministry of health at the National Hospital.
“With E standing for education, At the Ike Foundation , we try to catch the patients young and provide them with the needed basic language, learning and other functional skills while A stands for awareness. Because in this part of the world, there is very little understanding of the condition so, there has been a lot of misconception and discrimination attached to the condition leading to stigmatization and rejection of those suffering from the condition. They are rejected at school and in the society, there is no provision for them.
“So we try to create a platform by which we can advocate for their needs and also engage in awareness programs, enlightening the general public so that those affected with the condition won’t be stigmatized as witches or wizard, as is very common in our society .
“Most of the participants on this road work are parents of children with special needs such as autism and this is also taking place in order to equip their minds and to communicate what their needs are so that they can garner the necessary support.
“Today , we are carrying out a campaign marking the World Autism Awareness Day, to bring voice together for the course and create awareness on autism related matters.
Mr Francis said further that it is important that we do not wait only for a day like this to take active interest on the topic.
“We have to keep leveraging on the platform of social media and the mainstream media so that everyone can have adequate access to information relating to the condition in order that they will know what to do when the condition arises.
“There is also the issue of language barrier he said, “because most dwellers of rural communities can not read, so as a foundation, whenever we are going out to carry out our capacity building exercises, we try to carry every stakeholders along, for example, come 27th of this month, we are carrying a capacity building program in the whole of Bwari area council and we have gotten somebody who would interpret in the local language of the community and even those that will interpret in sign language so that even those that are deaf can be reached with information about the condition.
“This is because the prevalence of occurrence of autism in Nigeria is increasing hence , the need to carry everyone along.
Unfortunately, he noted, that there is no commensurate manpower to cater for these needs but “we have to start with awareness and that’s what we are doing today. if you do not know what it is, you can not address what it is.
Autism Spectrum Diaasorder (ASD), a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention
The causes of autism as of today, are still unknown to the scientific world but, there is what is called suspected causes and the most of it all, is that it is a biological trait which is more of a genetic condition because if you have a child born with autism, there is the likelihood of it repeating itself in the family line but, it is not a must that it must reoccur so, scientists up till now are still trying to discover the root causes of the condition.
There are however, argument about environmental toxins, vaccine mis-administration and a host of other speculative causes.
Mr Francis said that the Ike Foundation is in partnership with others in Nigeria and even outside the country such as partnerships in the USA, Eswatini, Rwanda and here in Nigeria, where we are in partnership with a lot of other NGOs.
“Some of our international partners are Autismspeaks in USA, Autism Eswatini in Eswatini, Hand of Joy in Rwanda.
“Our local partners include; Patrick’s Speech, Lagos, Royal School of Occupational Therapy Foundation, Patsilver Foundation, SafeHost, The Engraced Ones Family, Support for Special Needs Foundation, Ferdinand Effah Music Foundation and Live Well Home,
The President and founder of Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation (FEMHF), Mr Stanley Effah described the specific area of focus of the organization as using music for redressing effects of autism spectrum disorder through music therapy
“I am a father of autistic child and the day I launched the foundation for my son was the day I realized that several of my neighbors have children like mine but kept them locked up and hidden away from the public and that’s why I stand boldly here today to say that this is my identity.
“My son likes music and because of the love and compassion I have for my son, we exploited that and today he is so excellent. He plays the drum and connect with other musical instruments and this too, was what sprung us up to establish the foundation in the name of my son.
I like to, he continued, to commend Ike foundation for organizing this platform where we can all meet and brainstorm because networking is really key in creating a more impactful awareness.
Pamel Aduda, founder of Akkad Foundation, on her part, said autism does not make one inept or unable to do things, it is just important that we integrate people with the condition into the everyday life.
Inglemensah Agu, a certified autism specialist, Executive Director and Program Director of Quad Silver Educational and Therapy Centre advocates partnership with the ministry of education in order to fashion out a curriculum that will address the special needs of these categories of people.
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