Autism therapeutic clinics to be set up across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister of Health Syed Qasim Ali Shah on Tuesday announced the establishment of Pakistan’s first Autism Therapeutic Clinics across the province to cater to the mental rehabilitation of the 150,000 children diagnosed with the disorder in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The clinics will operate on a no-profit-no-loss basis, ensuring affordable care for all affected children. The clinics are set to be established in Peshawar, Haripur, Mardan, Charsadda, Mansehra, Swabi, Chitral, DI Khan, Swat and Dir, targeting both urban and remote areas of the province.

According to the Autism Society of Pakistan’s 2023 data, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is home to 150,000 children with autism, with no existing government-run facilities for their mental rehabilitation. A significant number of these children belong to remote areas, where no centers are currently available for their treatment and rehabilitation.

Qasim Ali Shah emphasized the importance of inclusive development, stating, “Living a normal life is a fundamental right of every child. Isolating a child from society due to their mental condition or social background is a mark of backwardness. Prioritising the mental rehabilitation of these children can make them valuable contributors to our development.”

In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Department of Health and the Autism and Learning Disabilities Organisation to establish these clinics.

Under the MoU, the clinics will be set up in district hospitals across ten districts over the next five years. The Department of Health will provide the necessary space and resources for these clinics in the district hospitals. These clinics will be staffed with qualified psychologists who will offer specialised services for the mental rehabilitation of children with autism.