Mwanzilishi na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa taasisi ya isiyo ya kiserikali ya Lukiza Autism Foundation na muandaaji wa mbio ya Run 4 Autism Tanzania; inayojihusisha na kutetea watu wenye hali ya Usonji/Autism; bi Hilda Nkabe, amewataka wazazi wenye watoto wenye Usonji kutokata tamaa na kuwalea watoto wao kwa upendo, pamoja na changamoto zote wanazozipitia katika ulezi.
Akizungumza katika Kongamano la kwanza la Kitaifa la afya ya akili nchini lililofanyika katika ukumbi wa mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere ( JINCC ), mkurugenzi huyo ameiomba Wizara ya afya kutatua changamoto zinazowakabili wazazi wa watoto hawa, kama vile gharama kubwa za mazoezi tiba, uchache wa wataalam wa utambuzi wa hali ya Usonji na wataalam wa mazoezi tiba, uchache wa vituo vya afya vinavyotoa huduma za mazoezi tiba na shule au vituo jumuishi au maalum.
“Tatizo la usonji linawapata watoto wadogo ambapo dalili huanza kuonekana katika umri wa chini ya miaka mitano. Dalili zake kubwa ni changamoto za mawasiliano, changamoto katika kutengeneza mahusiano na jamii inayomzunguka, changamoto za kitabia na hisia.
Akipokea tuzo ya ubalozi wa afya ya akili kutoka kwa Waziri wa afya, Mhe Ummy Mwalimu, kutokana na mchango wake katika kuelimisha jamii juu ya afya ya akili hususan Usonji, bi Hilda Nkabe alimshukuru Mhe. Ummy mwalimu na Wizara ya afya kwa ujumla kutambua mchango wake kwenye sekta hii na kwa kufanikisha uwepo wa Kongamano hili la kwanza la kitaifa la afya ya akili na kufungua mazungumzo mapana ya Kitaifa kuhusu afya ya akili nchini Tanzania.
Founder and Executive Director of the non-government organization Lukiza Autism Foundation and the organizer of Run 4 Autism Tanzania; advocating for individuals with Autism; Ms. Hilda Nkabe, has urged parents of children with autism to not despair and raise their children with love, inspite of challenges that they are facing.
Speaking at the first National Conference on mental health in the country, held at Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre (JNICC), the director has asked the Ministry of Health to look at challenges faced by parents of children with Autism and other disabilities. These are such as the high cost of therapies, shortage of specialized medical professions in the field, shortage of therapists and not enough health centers that provide the therapies, as well as shortage of special needs/inclusived schools and trained special needs teachers in the area.
Autism affects young children, whereby symptoms shows at the age of below 5. These symptoms are such as communication challenges, challenges in social interactions, behavioral challenges as well as sensory integration issues.
Ms. Hilda Nkabe received an award as a Mental Health Ambassador from the Minister of Health, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, for her contribution in educating the community on mental health, especially Autism. Ms. Hilda Nkabe thanked Hon. Ummy Mwalimu and the Ministry of Health in general for recognizing her efforts in mental health and facilitating the first national conference on mental health which will open the much needed dialogue about mental health in Tanzania.