ACTING Health and Child Care minister Felix Mhona recently struggled to explain whether Zimbabwe has a dedicated national framework to address autism, after an MP pressed for clear targets and responsible institutions to bridge the gap between diagnosis and access to essential medical support.
Hurungwe East legislator Chenjerai Kangausaru (Zanu PF) raised the issue in Parliament, asking if the Health and Child Care ministry had concrete strategies to address the growing gap between the identification of children with autism and their access to appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, educational and social support.
However, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona, who was standing in for Health minister Douglas Mombeshora, focused on awareness and the need for parents to seek professional guidance.
“Thank you Madam Speaker, and let me also thank Hon. Chenjerai Kangausaru, Pastor. This has been a problem, the challenges of autism in our country, where people maybe traditionally or within the African context, at times were not in a position to identify that one is suffering from autism,” Mhona said.
He said the government was raising awareness to help parents identify children who may have autism and seek professional assistance.
“So there is awareness going on to make sure that at times you might find your child is very active and he or she is not paying attention to detail. It has been observed that a number of our kids are at risk of having autism, but parents are not aware,” he said.
Mhona said the ministry was moving aggressively to conscientise parents to seek professional guidance.
“This is an ongoing exercise, and yes, those with autism are being assisted so that parents will not just think that maybe my child is just active, but to seek professional guidance,” he said.
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But Kangausaru pressed further, asking whether the government had considered developing a dedicated national autism framework with clear targets, responsible institutions and bilateral provisions.
“Has the government considered developing a dedicated national autism framework with clear targets and responsible institutions and bilateral provisions?” he asked.
The minister instead asked for the question to be submitted in writing.
“If you may indulge me, so that if we have it in writing, we get proper and adequate information,” Mhona said.
The exchange comes as questions mount about how children with autism can move from identification to accessing the support they need, including diagnosis, therapy, education and social services.
The minister’s response leaves the question of a coordinated national approach to autism unanswered in the parliamentary exchange.
