Shivasatakshi Jhapa- A recent disability identification and certificate distribution camp held in Shivagasti municipality has uncovered the presence of several autistic children across all 11 wards of the area.

The camp, which took place from December 22 to 31, aimed to identify individuals with disabilities and provide them with official identity cards. During health screenings at the camp, it was discovered that a significant number of children displayed signs of autism.

According to Badri Dahal, the cooperative head of Shivasatakshi Municipality and the coordinator of the camp organizing committee, each ward in the municipality has between 12 to 15 children with autism. He mentioned that the municipality did not have any prior data on autistic children in the area. Many children, who were brought in for general health screenings, showed signs of autism.

Shivasatakshi’s mayor, Meghahang Thopra, acknowledged that autism is a growing concern worldwide, and its prevalence in Shivasatakshi is now emerging as a local issue. However, he emphasized that there is no official data on the number of autistic children in the municipality yet. Discussions regarding how to address this issue are still ongoing. “We are yet to determine the approach, and once we know how the government addresses this problem, we will form our own strategy,” he said.

With the increasing number of children identified with autism, parents have expressed concern over the lack of resources to support their children’s education and therapy needs. Many report difficulties in providing their children with the necessary care and support to lead a normal life.

One such parent, Sandip Sherma, a resident of Shivasatakshi-1, Dundamari, shared the story of his 6-year-old son, Mixam Sherma, who was diagnosed with autism. “When my son turned two, he started speaking, but then suddenly stopped talking altogether,” Sandip said. After consulting doctors, he was told that his son displayed signs of autism. Despite Mixam being 6 years old, he still cannot speak. Sandip expressed frustration over the fact that local schools refuse to admit his son due to his condition.

Many parents in the municipality are unaware that their children have autism. They either haven’t taken their children to the hospital or are not familiar with the condition. Sandip pointed out that the number of children with autism is rising daily. Parents are now calling on the government to provide better access to education, therapy, and necessary materials for these children.

Mixam is currently attending a school in Surunga, Kanakai Municipality. However, Sandip noted that the school fees are quite high—around NPR 10,000 per month for three classes. This is a significant financial burden for families with lower incomes. According to Sandip, the school in Surunga currently has around 60 autistic children enrolled.

While some parents are aware of their children’s condition, many remain unaware and are reluctant to publicly acknowledge their children’s autism due to stigma and fear of discrimination. This lack of awareness and resources is a growing challenge for both parents and local authorities.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2022 report, one in every 100 children worldwide is diagnosed with autism. However, there is no official survey data available for the number of autistic children in Nepal. A study conducted in a remote district of Nepal in 2016 found that among 1,000 children, three children attending school exhibited signs of autism.

As the issue of autism gains more visibility in Shivasatakshi, local authorities are calling for a more systematic approach to address the needs of children with autism in the community, from identification and education to therapy and support services.

Featured Image: Picture of Disability Identification Health Camp at Shivasatakshi Municipality Jhapa

This article is translated from news published in palikasandesh.com and written by Saroj Bhattarai.