News » Vietnam
Vietnam to launch project to help autistic children
  • | Nhan Dan | April 20, 2018 08:00 PM
A project to enhance awareness of children with autism is expected to be of benefit to about 4,000 Vietnamese children suffering from the disorder over the next five years.

An event to raise awareness of autistic children in Bac Ninh province


The information was announced at a workshop on the issue jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs on April 19.

The project is to be carried out by the National Fund for Vietnamese Children and the Phu Nhuan Jewellery Company from 2018 to 2022.

It aims to enhance public awareness and encourage the community to join hands in supporting autistic children, while laying the foundation to formulate a policy regarding the issue.

Under the project, a book on autism will be published, while information on the disorder will be provided to 10,000 parents, and assistance offered to 10,000 teachers and social workers responsible for autistic children.

It is estimated that 4,000 children with autism will benefit from the project.

According to MOLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha, autism is becoming more widespread with more and more children being diagnosed with the condition.

In Vietnam, no official research has been conducted to determine the number of autistic children but a MOLISA estimate puts the number of autistic people in Vietnam at approximately 200,000.

According to Professor Pham Minh Muc from the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, the number of autistic children visiting the National Children’s Hospital in 2007 saw a 50 fold increase compared to seven years earlier.

Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by difficulty in social communication, social interaction, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviours and interests.

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