By Gloria Osemudiamhen
The Edo State Government through the Office of the Edo State First Lady, led by its Coordinator, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has convened a stakeholders’ meeting aimed at strategizing for the upcoming Autism Awareness programme at the Government House in Benin City.
In an address, Mrs. Anani emphasized the need to create awareness about Autism and to have strategic conversations with parents, teachers, and stakeholders, who are crucial in supporting autistic children. According to her, “It is important that in preparation for the event, we have a roundtable discussion to clarify what we are supposed to do; what is expected of us; and what our expectations are for the day.”
Stressing the need for community awareness and understanding, Mrs. Anani noted that Many parents lack awareness about autism, leading to misconceptions and stigma. She said, “Many parents have children who are autistic, but they are unaware. Sometimes it is attributed to witchcraft or believed the child is just losing consciousness, yet autism exists on a spectrum with various manifestations. There are adults with autism who are not even aware. Unfortunately, some children are kept hidden away, with harmful beliefs that they don’t belong in the community.
“Most times, parents tend to suppress them and we tend to want to hide in a form of protecting them; we do not allow them to shine in their ability. So, it’s important that as parents and as stakeholders, these are things we want to bring to the limelight.”
In a remark, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole noted that autism is more than just a difference and also emphasized that it is not about limitations, but rather a unique aspect of human diversity. In his words, “It is a different ability. They say autism is awesome because it reveals the incredible diversity of the human mind. People on the autism spectrum often have unique strengths, such as focus, honesty, creativity, memory, and deep passion for their interests.
Dr. Oshiomhole stressed the importance of advocating for autism understanding and acceptance. He highlighted the need to focus on abilities rather than limitations, and leveraging media to educate the public to promote a more inclusive society.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders offering valuable suggestions and actionable plans to guide the programme’s direction, and setting the stage for a successful programme implementation.
