DOH includes Cebu City in autism study

BLUES CLUES. A huge blue ribbon was put on display yesterday at the Inayawan gym to mark the celebration of Autism Awareness Day.

Cebu City is among the areas included in a study on autism to be conducted by the Department of Health (DOH).

The study will focus on densely-populated barangays such as Inayawan, Sawang Calero and Binaliw.

Mothers gathered at the barangay Inayawan gymnasium yesterday to celebrate the 7th World Autism Awareness Day.

“We want to raise awareness because we don’t have any crude data, and out of the population, 5 percent are only detected. Out of this event we can raise the mothers’ awareness and information about autism,” said Dr. Eugenia Cañal, officer-in-charge of DOH-7’s Non-Communicable Diseases Section.

The City Health Department will conduct an orientation and survey between May and June to gather data on children afflicted with the disorder, said Dr. Alma Corpin, field program division chief of the Cebu City Health Department.

Autism is a developmental disability that affects one’s social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and behavior.

Obvious signs and symptoms of autism can be detected during the ages two to three years.

The Autism Society of the Philippines said there are half-a-million Filipinos with autism, 30 percent are aware of the condition while only 2 percent receive intervention.

Sandra Espina, adviser of the Autism Society of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, said an increased advocacy and intervention will make children with autism functional in their lives. “The Autism Society of the Philippines is going full force for this autism advocacy.

We are giving these posters that have signs and symptoms to be disseminated to the barangay health workers because early detection and intervention is best for children with autism,” she added.