Accra, April 2, GNA - Dr Emmanuel V. Badoe, Director, Neurology Developmental Clinic, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, on Thursday called for

urgent measures to address the growing number of children with autistic disorders in the country. He said the early childhood policy adopted by the country must seriously deal with screening children with language problems. Dr Badoe was speaking at a press conference organized by the Autism Awareness Care and Training (AACT) Centre and Awaawa2 Centre for Children with Communication Disorder to mark this year's World Autism Awareness Day in Accra.

Autism is a condition that affects some children and leaves them unable to form normal social relationships or develop normal communication. A child may become isolated from human contact and absorbed in a world of repetitive activities and interests. Dr Badoe said even though the cause and cure for autism were not known clues were emerging through research. He said records available were not adequate to give a true picture in Ghana as no large systematic studies had been conducted, but records at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital stood at a total of 67 cases seen over a three year period.

Dr Badoe said there were a lot more cases in the communities without a formal diagnosis. He added that on the world stage, it was now believed that one out of every 500 children was on the autistic spectrum making it more common than diabetes. He said autistic children should be supported by the government and the private sector in terms of their special educational facilities. Mrs Serwah Quaynor, Founder AACT, appealed to the media to assist with the dissemination of the problem of autism disorders among children in the country.

She said support services for children with autism were a big problem in the country. Mrs Quaynor said apart from the AACT Centre, Awaawaa2, and the New Horizon Special Schools there were no other specialized institutions to handle children with these disorders.