Budget allocation for children with neuro developmental conditions a welcome move

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made a welcome announcement in his Budget speech which would see a separate allocation for the care of children with neurodevelopmental needs. This includes Rs. 200 million to establish a treatment centre for children with neurodevelopmental needs, in line with international standards, at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo while another Rs. 250 million has been made towards the creation of model daycare centres for those with special needs. 

These allocations are part of a plan to implement a five-year national program to improve health, education, and service facilities for children with neurodevelopmental needs including autism.

In Sri Lanka, the care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders is an area which is lagging behind when compared to treatment for other conditions. These conditions are rarely spoken of in public and without adequate State intervention, most children do not get the opportunity to realise their full potential while living with conditions such as autism.

Hence the President’s announcement of separate allocation for this much needed area is welcome as it will not only bring in much needed capital but also allow for a more open discussion on how society as a whole can contribute with empathy to those in such situations.

According to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo, when having a child with autism various aspects of family lives are affected including housekeeping, finances, emotional and mental health of parents, marital relationships, physical health of family members, limiting the response to the needs of other children within the family, poor sibling relationships, relationships with extended family, friends and neighbours and in recreation and leisure activities.

The hospital which provides autism services as part of its overall care system states that with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is a complex lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, both children and their families face numerous challenges in regard to school admission and continued education.

The lack of awareness on ASD and lack of resources, discourage school administrations from accepting admission of children with ASD into schools in Sri Lanka while caregivers are invariably faced with countless barriers in regard to stigmatisation, lack of employment opportunities and safety concerns.

This is why Government intervention is essential, along with the support for the private sector as well as volunteers, to enable the country to have a better system in place for the benefit of those in such a situation.

One in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates by the UN World Health Organization (WHO). Around the world, 1% of the entire population – possibly 2% – is on the spectrum.

Details of the level of prevalence of autism in Sri Lanka are sketchy but a study in 2009 with a small sample size showed that one in 93 children (1.07%) aged 18 to 24 months was diagnosed with autism. This points to a high incidence of autism in Sri Lanka even though there is the possibility that there are families unaware of the condition their children suffer from and may neglect them or turn to other forms of interventions such as ‘Kattdiyas’ (shaman), with the hope they can cure a child with such conditions.

The Lady Ridgeway Hospital says that awareness of autism among the population in Sri Lanka is key to getting the best care for the children while there should be more early detection and referral systems and centres for early intervention.

This is why the announcement by the President is important as it will draw attention to an important health issue which many are either unaware of or neglect.