Indian Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan presents A Tale of Two Drops — a book authored by him — to Saima Wazed Hossain.
Saima Wazed Hossain, the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has dedicated the World Health Organisation (WHO) award to those working silently against autism in Bangladesh. Saima wants to widen her works through building a global partnership.
“I think it (award) wasn’t given to me, it’s rather a recognition of them - our fathers and mothers who have been working silently,” Saima told a press conference in Dhaka.
Saima said she had taken up the autism issue as a ‘responsibility’ to help the voices of people affected by the illness to be heard. Through the award the responsibility has become even bigger, she said.
“I’ll continue to work,” pledged Saima won the WHO award for her contribution in the fight against neural development disorder and autism.
Responding to a question, Saima said her primary goal has been achieved as a number of countries have made supportive statements towards the issue.
Saima, also a member of the WHO expert advisory panel on mental health, emphasised on ‘co-ordination’ and ‘collaboration’ on initiatives being taken by the country on health issues.
“We want to include the autism issue in all initiatives,” Saima stressed. She added that other health related issues would not lose importance if autism is incorporated in initiatives taken by the government.
“Rather, the society will be more integrated and inclusive,” she said.
Saima emphasised that sharing of resources and knowledge was very important and can be ensured through global partnership. “We can’t do everything alone. We need the support of the global community.”
She said the government was striving to make every effort more effective through mutual co-operation among global partners.
The press conference was arranged after the roundtable discussion for the development of a multi-faceted action plan titled ‘Addressing Autism Through Partnership’, a side event of the 32nd Meeting of Ministers of Health of Countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region held at the Hotel Sonargaon.
Director general (DG-UN) at the foreign ministry, Saida Muna Tasneem, and global experts were also present on the occasion.
As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh, Saima has played a critical role in creating the South Asian Autism Network (Saan).
She also led campaigns for the passage of a resolution on autism in the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland this year.
