In Rangareddy, Dr. Samir Hasan Dalwai spoke about the need for better support for children with autism. He emphasized the importance of inclusiveness and providing opportunities for these children to thrive in society. The seminar was organized by the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) Rajendranagar in collaboration with UNICEF and Fernandez Foundation to mark World Autism Day.
Dr. Samir highlighted the need to focus on developmental delays among children, noting that many children in India have never seen a pediatrician. He stressed the importance of early screening and the role of parents and frontline staff in recognizing behavioral changes and developmental delays.
Dr. Rajan Shukla discussed measures being taken to identify and diagnose children with autism at an early stage. He mentioned a pilot project in five districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh aimed at empowering parents and monitoring the development of affected children.
Dr. Tejo Pratap emphasized the need to address the root causes of autism and align behavior-based data with policies to provide better care for affected children. He highlighted the increasing prevalence of autism and the importance of sensitizing families to the challenges they may face.
Dr. Dedeepya Puskur discussed the role of parents in understanding behavioral changes in children with autism, while Dr. Sugunkar Reddy and Dr. Srikrishna shared information about ongoing programs introduced by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics related to autism and other developmental disorders.
