On the occasion of World Autism Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to provide technical assistance to member states to deliver integrated health services to people with autism and other mental and developmental disorders of childhood.

Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health said " It is a deep concern that the global burden of disease attributed to mental disorders continues to grow, particularly in developing countries. It is essential to prioritize, implement and fund projects on autism spectrum disorders and other mental disorders in children in developing countries."

Currently, the vast majority of children with mental health needs in developing countries do not receive any treatment or care. The immediate challenge in these countries is generating sufficient resources for primary health care to ensure early identification and treatment of mental disorders among children…