Acino gives support to autism charity
On October 2nd, 2018 Steffen Saltofte, CEO Acino, and Eugene Zaika, Ukraine and CIS Head Acino took part in a press conference dedicated to the social project ‘Your Limitless World’ by Acino, which aims to help people with autism spectrum disorder and improve the quality of their lives.
The social project runs social events and activities that support to children and families which face this disorder.
Watch the press conference in Ukrainian here.
The press conference also featured: Igor A. Martsenkovskiy, pediatric psychiatrist, Ph.D., head of mental disorders of children and teenagers of Ukrainian Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology (Kyiv), Yuriy R. Miroshnichenko, People’s deputy of Ukraine, honored lawyer of Ukraine, Candidate of political sciences, Doctor of Jurisprudence, Inna Sergiyenko, founder of the children with autism support foundation “Child with future”, Consul of “Autism Europe” and mother of a child with autism. The event was moderated by Alla Sorokolietova, Medical and Regulatory Director Acino.
The speakers covered the charitable project, emphasizing the need to raise awareness among doctors, educators and parents on early autism. They also discussed how to create improved conditions in education to support those with autism, and the creation of a common and systematic approach to help children to thrive.
The growing need to tackle autism
Autism was once considered a comparatively rare disease. Epidemiological studies conducted by the Center for the control and Prevention of U.S. diseases, studies conducted in Asia, Europe and North America demonstrate the average prevalence of about 1% within the population. However, the incidence rate of Autism in Ukraine is growing from 2006 year, until 2017 year the number of first diagnosed cases has increased in 8.5 times (at the end of 2017, 99.8k cases were recorded).
Providing medical and social assistance to children and adults suffering from autism is a serious economic burden for the states. There is a need to strengthen national potential in the care of children, teenagers and adults suffering from autism and other developmental disorders, commented Igor A. Martsenkovskiy, pediatric psychiatrist, Ph.D., head of Department Mental disorders of children and adolescents of the Ukrainian Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology (Kyiv).