71st

Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Autism in Africa: Life Saving Awareness whilst implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and towards Agenda 2063 .
A Side-even co-hosted by Zambia, Angola, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Malawi , Poland , Nigeria Uganda , and
supported by the Engr. Aja Eze Foundation
6th December2016

1) On Tuesday, 6th December 2016, the Governments of Zambia, Angola, Israel, Japan, Kenya,
Malawi, Nigeria, Poland and Uganda will co-sponsor a special event on Autism in Africa. The
event will be hosted by the Aja Eze Foundationand will take place in Conference Room 4 from
10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
2) The aim of the event is to draw the attention of the international Community to the challenge of
Aim and Objectives for the event w ill include the following:

Raise awareness of the challenges faced by children with Autism in Africa and to improve
the lives of people living with autism in Africa ;
To enhance collaboration and cooperation between all Member States in order to share
experiences and knowledge ; and,
Advocate for policies and p rogrammes which move children with Autism and disabilities
from exclusion to inclusion.

Autism in Africa, including the prevalent obstacles such as poverty, lack of skills and services,
stigma, isolation, depression and lack of information.

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and
develop social relationships. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 68 children in the
USA, affecting four times as many boys as girls. Autism has been labelled a "national public health
crisis, whose cause and cure remain unknown," by the CDC.

Autism knows no boundaries. The number of children and adults with autistic conditions continues to
rise. It cuts across every nation, every ethnic, racial and social group and is often accompanied by
behavioural challenges.Adverse discrimination, abuse and above all severe isolation are just but a few
of the challenges that people with autism suffer every day. Public awareness alsocontinues to remain
very low. Children and adults with autism face major challenges associated with stigma and adverse
discrimination, in addition to lack of access to support. Thus a vast number of people struggle daily
with multiple barriers in their day-to-day existence.

In Africa the plight of people with autism is even bigger, because the challenges associated with
autism are further exacerbated when they are combined with poverty, since there is no proper
diagnosis and there are no proper services. In addition, while there is an emerging prevalence of
autism in Africa, there is also still a stigma attached to autism in Africa, which is a strong intimidator
to parents from seeking advice or information about the disorder. This situation is a constant violation
of the fundamental human rights and as it stands in the way of giving young children the early and
correct treatment which is crucial for improving their prognosis and giving them the chance for
maximizing their potential and better integrating in the normative society.

It is imperative to raise awareness, among health care providers, therapists, parents and the general
population, to the signs of autism and to the need to seek and provide services as soon as possible so
that children with autism will be diagnosed as early as possible (today it is possible to diagnose autism
as early as the age of one year old) and given the right treatment as soon as possible in order to
improve their prognosis and allow them the chance to become independent high functioning
members of the community. There is a need for greater collaboration and cooperation of the
advanced countries with the developing countries, particularly with African countries in order to
increase awareness, reduce negative opinions and stigmas, strengthen capacities, help with
allocation of financial support to provide proper diagnosis and early intervention treatments to
children with autism in Africa. There is need for training centres to be established in Africa, where
parents and care-givers can be educated and offered the much need support.











2

AGENDA
Side Event on Autism in Africa: 6th December 2016, UN Headquarters, CR4, 10:00-13:00
Time

10:00

10:05

10:05

10:15

10:15

10:20

10:20

10:25

10:25

10:30

10:30

10:35

10:35

10:40

10:40

11:05

Welcome Remarks by the Moderator
Ugoji AdanmaEze, Esq.
5 Minutes
Opening Remarks:
H.E. Dr. Mwaba P. Kasese-Bota, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia
to the United Nations
10 Minutes

H.E. Dr. Richard Nduhuura, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to
the United Nations
5 Minutes


H.E. Mr. Necton D. Mhura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations
5 Minutes

H.E. Mr. Ismael A. Gasper, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Angola to the United
Nations
5 Minutes

H.E. Mr. David Roet, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel to the United
Nations
5 Minutes

H.E. Mrs. Koki Muli Grignon, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Kenya to the United Nations.
5 Minutes

H.E Mrs.Margareta Kassangana- Jakubowska , Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Poland to the United Nations


Mr. Alexander Tope Ajayi , Minister, The Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations .

Keynote Speakers will include:
Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, United Kingdom
The importance of Public-Private Partnership in promoting the awareness of Autism in Africa
and Agenda 2063. (8 Minutes)

Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro College and University Systems, Touro University Nevada
Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities What is Autism? (8 Minutes )

Ms. Shirley Baier-Stein, Autism Mom-Unlocking the potential of children with Autism .(8

Minutes )

11:15

11:25

11:25

11:35

11:35

11:45

11:45

12:05

12:05

12:15

12:15

12:25

12:25

12:35

12:35

12:45

12:45

12:55

12:55

13:00

13:00

PANEL 1

AUTISM AFRICA
Mr William Anthony Allen, Democratic District Leader (70 District, Part A Harlem) & Founder Uptown
Democratic Club.
(10 Minutes)
Dr. Joel D. Wallach, B.S. D.V.M. N.D.
(10 Minutes)
Dr. Israel Ogunyele, CEO/President, Philly Metro Pharmacy.
(10 Minutes)
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION (20 MINUTES)

PANEL 2
AUTISM AFRICA
Theme: The Role of Civil Society in Africa to raise awareness of Autism in Africa; towards Agenda 2063
Kenya- Ms Evelyn M Butichi, Founder and President, Elect Women Africa Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
(10 Minutes)
Maryalice Fegeley , Regional Coordinator, Parent To Parent of NYS - US perspective on the Parent to
Parent Organisation
(10 Minutes)

NIGERIA Pastor Mrs. Felicia Omotoso, The Redeemed Christian Church, The International Center,
Brooklyn, New York. (Video Presentation)
(10 Minutes)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION (20 MINUTES)
Closing Remarks
H.E. Mr. Yoshifumi Okamura, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
CONFIRMED. (5 Minutes)

Wrap-Up and Way Forward by Moderator

END OF PROGRAMME

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Interest in participating in the discussion is high and delegations wishing to take the floor are requested to contact the
Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations specifying the level of speaker ( See contact below ) .

For inquiries related to this event, please contact : Hellen Chifwaila, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United
Nations : hellensibs @yahoo.com
For media inquiries related to this event , please contact : HRH . Yomi Garnett , MD , Strategic and Communications
Advisor , Eng. Aja Eze Foundation : yomigarnett@mail.com