Seeking strategies adapted to the countries of the continent

Launched in 2023 in Douala (Cameroon) for its first edition, the Autism Africa Show made its second stop in Libreville (Gabon), for its second edition, from 31 May to 1 June 2024, with the theme «TND: Follow-up, pragmatic and efficient support in Africa».

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NTD). It occurs in early childhood (before the age of 36 months) and has consequences at different levels and degrees on the child’s developmental spheres. These manifestations are described under the heading “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)”. The first signs and symptoms of autism vary considerably and appear at different times. Sometimes they occur in the first few months of life, or much later. A person with autism needs appropriate support throughout their life and must be followed by professionals. The specificity of the Africa Autism Fair is the search for strategies to take care of people with autism taking into account the realities of African countries. Hence the interest of organizing it in different countries of the continent. The idea is to get each country to put in place mechanisms for accompaniment and monitoring that take into account the realities of its environment. In Libreville, for example, it was organized at the initiative of the Ndossi and Akomgha National Centre, which takes care of autistic and trisomic children in Gabon. Other structures such as the CHU mother and child Jeanne Ebori, the New Horizons Foundation or the Omar Bongo University were involved.

In Gabon, as in the rest of Africa, the observation is the same: Lack of standard organization of diagnostic procedure, even if there are some structures of aid: lack of trained personnel in sufficient number, adapted schooling centres avoiding discrimination, health coverage of parental expectations. Cost-intensive care for families. Hence the imperative need to involve the state for the creation of specialized rooms, training of trainers, harmonisation and identification of the role of psychomotricians, speech therapists, psychologists, recognition of the profession of School Life Assistant (AVS), the harmonisation of the role of ASD patients/parents associations, the optimisation of social provisions for children and their families.

A very notable communication was that of Dr KAVIARASU BALAKRISHNAN which focused on the treatment of autism in India. The speaker noted that the medical procedure for autism began in India in the 14th century. The practice has evolved through nanotherapy using particles, with the brain being able to absorb particles from 20 to 100 nanometers. Screening is now done early in the first month after birth. The mother is then treated and the infant feeds on breast milk. The author presented pictures of cases that this therapy could treat, including children unable to walk/speak and who regain their tone after this treatment which is already present in East Africa. The speaker invited the assembly to explore this path, especially since in this issue, it is highly recommended South-South cooperation.

Sixteen countries took part in the Libreville fair. The next one was announced in the DRC, a year from now, almost to the day.