To mark the UN Day, UN in Croatia draws attention to autism
UN Day, which commemorates the 24th October, staff of UN agencies in Croatia today was edited premises of the Centre for Autism – from painting hallways and classrooms to outdoor decorating and winter garden. The initiative was organized as one in a series of events to mark 20 years receiving the Croatian to the United Nations. The anniversary is marked by the visit to the UN Secretary General to Croatia in July this year. Employees and representatives of UN agencies led by the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Croatia Louisa Vinton, and they were joined by Health Minister Rajko Ostojić, Head of Health Promotion at the Croatian Institute of Health Sanja Milanović and Director of the Centre Ivica Dokleja. The action was supported by their presence and the special envoy of the President of the Croatian people with disabilities Vesna Škulić, Assistant Minister of Social Policy and young Iva Prpić and Goodwill Ambassador of the Center for Autism Zlatan Zuhrić Zuhra.
“We want to emphasize that the original UN mission to help people live better. It is the everyday work that us full of energy and commitment. I’m the Secretary-General on the occasion of the UN Day said: “The UN is not only a meeting place for diplomats. Each of us, in his own way to do something in order to build a better world for all, ‘”said Vinton.” We think that the community work the best way to illustrate this statement, the Secretary-General. “
In activities involving employees in all seven UN agencies in Croatia: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World health Organization (WHO) and World Bank (WB).
UN action in the Center for Autism in Zagreb, were joined by members of the UNDP Project COAST from Split who have children being Split Center for Autism donate funds, equipment and accessories for creative work and child development and didactic toys that will be used in education in the value of 6,500 kuna.
“Autism is a condition that is permanent and also means a person’s life-long disability. Therefore 1115 of our fellow citizens with autism, many of them still in the Register of persons with disabilities, seeks the help of all of us together– health, social welfare, education, and all who are in any way to help, “warned Minister Ostojić. “We at the Ministry of Health, we received a number of initiatives to improve access to health care for people with autism and we will try to improve the system so that they deservedly get adequate technical assistance to autistic spectrum disorders have been previously recognized and diagnosed, the better the available therapies and medications, there where it is possible to set up a specialized diagnostic teams, networks of clinics and departments. “
Following the knowledge acquired after participating in the 50th Annual World Conference Focus on Autism (50 th annual meeting of the world about autism) who was in New York in September this year, organized by the UN Secretary General’s wife, Ban Soon-taek, Musić Milanovic stressed that Croatia has joined the worldwide movement to raise awareness about autism. Except that Croatia will join in this worldwide campaign, will mark World Autism Day (April 2nd). Joint efforts will be done to inform the public, and to solve the problems faced by people with autism.
Center for Autism was chosen to highlight the needs of people with disabilities in general, and in particular to the needs of people living with autism. This initiative seeks to emphasize their right to equality, human dignity, the right to a full and decent life and to participate actively in the community.
“Employees of the UN agencies in Croatia are now in the service of our customers,” said the director of the Center Ivica Dokleja. “Today, in a symbolic way, try to edit and beautify their living space in the facility, to touch them with your attention and draw attention to the state authorities and the general public on autism.
UNDP has for many years supported the Center’s activities and helps to solve the lack of care for people with autism and insufficiently regulated status as the only specialized rehabilitation facilities for people with autism. “He also pointed out that autism is a growing problem around the world for which the United Nations requires special attention and government action member States.
After a tour of the Centre, Minister Ostojić agreed the need to launch a comprehensive project that would contribute to enhancing awareness of the needs of people with autism and the strengthening of the national bodies that can provide the answer to their needs. Following discussions with the Director of the Centre and representatives of UN agencies in Croatia, instructed the Assistant Minister of Social Welfare, Iva Prpić, to convene an inter-ministerial meeting with the ministries of health, education and social policy, in order to make decisions about the organization of support for people with autism at the Croatian. Care has so far been fragmented, unsystematic and untimely, and therefore suffered most children, because there was no early diagnosis and early intervention, as well as adults, because they were not created adequate services, there was no systematic inclusion in their community, or their allowed to work jobs that are capable of doing. The aim is to create conditions for the simultaneous treatment of these three ministries and organizing coordinated services – from early intervention, preschool and school education, and the provision of social services, and community-based rehabilitation, as opposed to exclusive dependence on the placement in institutions.
Care has so far been fragmented, unsystematic and untimely, and therefore suffered most children, because there was no early diagnosis and early intervention, as well as adults, because they were not created adequate services, there was no systematic inclusion in their community, or their allowed to work jobs that are capable of doing. The aim is to create conditions for the simultaneous treatment of these three ministries and organizing coordinated services – from early intervention, preschool and school education, and the provision of social services, and community-based rehabilitation, as opposed to exclusive dependence on the placement in institutions.
It is not known how many Croatian citizens are affected by autism spectrum disorders. Registered with them more than a thousand. According to conservative estimates we assume that figure lies somewhere between eight and 20 thousand citizens. However, one should not ignore the fact that new research shows that today a child is born with autism every 110 children, and when it comes to the boys one in 70th In Croatia, there is no referral center for autism, there is no specialized diagnostic team and the Department of autism, and in 2000. year he Commission Council of Europe warned that the population should have at least three such departments and teams.
Pictures can be viewed at this link…
