Clinic for autistic children opens in Peshawar

Paraplegic Centre to provide free of cost treatment

PESHAWAR:

A clinic for the treatment of children affected by autism was opened at the Paraplegic Centre Peshawar on Friday.

Advisor to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Chief Minister Health Dr Abid Jameel performed the inauguration.

He paid a visit to the centre and was very impressed with the performance of the largest physical rehabilitation center in the country and highly appreciated the dedication of its staff.

On this occasion, the health advisor formally opened program for the treatment and physical and psychological rehabilitation of children affected by autism.

Dr Abid Jameel visited various departments of the institution, mingled with the patients under treatment there and inquired after their well-being.

Spinal cord injury patients, hailing from different parts of the country, informed the health advisor that apart from three meals a day, all treatment facilities and equipment are provided to them completely free of charge, while staff behavior was excellent.

Jamil acknowledged that he himself is a witness to this fact as his close relative was admitted here a few years ago who was rehabilitated sooner due to the excellent medical facilities available here.

He observed that the number of children affected by autism is increasing rapidly across the country and it has become a big challenge, but unfortunately there are very few institutions for the treatment of the condition and they are also very expensive.

It may be noted that children suffering from autism are usually self-absorbed and unaware of their surroundings. They shy away from socializing with people, are not interested in reading and cannot concentrate on any task.

They cannot sit in one place and get down to fighting and breaking things.

Dr Syed Muhammad Ilyas informed the advisor that although the treatment and physical and psychological rehabilitation of children with autism is a difficult job, the Paraplegic Centre has taken up this Herculean task.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2023.