By: Sering Mass Jallow
The Gambia Autism Support Network (GASAN) on Saturday convened a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Banjul, calling for stronger advocacy and inclusion of persons with autism in The Gambia.
The event, held under the theme “Autism and Humanity: Every Life Has Value”, brought together advocates, medical professionals, National Assembly members, education officials, and parents of children with autism.
It aimed to strengthen awareness, promote inclusion, and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of persons living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Speaking at the gathering held at the National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia (NACCUG), GASAN National Coordinator Abdul Majid Jallow described the engagement as a collective commitment to advancing autism inclusion in the country.
He said coordinated efforts among stakeholders could help build a more inclusive society and supportive environment for persons on the autism spectrum.
Also speaking, Aida Badjie Colley, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Education Officer at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), said the ministry’s Special Needs Unit has adopted an inclusive education policy aimed at supporting learners with special needs.
However, she noted that implementation faced challenges, particularly in teacher training, resource availability, and capacity building.
“The autism inclusion policy looks at teacher training, resources, and the placement of learners in schools. We are doing a lot, but there are challenges in the pipeline,” she said, adding that gaps remained in data availability and the training of specialists in special needs education.
In his remarks, Hon. Momodou Lamin Bah, National Assembly Member for Banjul North, says there is currently no dedicated budget line for autism at the parliamentary level, although funding exists for general mental health services.
He called on the Ministry of Health to establish a specific budget line for autism-related interventions to enable parliament to provide targeted allocations.
“I think it is important that the Ministry of Health comes up with a budget line for persons with autism so that we, as members of parliament, can approve and allocate resources to support them,” he said.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior, with symptoms typically appearing in early childhood.
In The Gambia, it is estimated that 82 in every 10,000 births are affected. However, many cases remain unreported, partly due to cultural beliefs that attribute symptoms to spiritual causes.
