Dr. Salem Abdul Rahman Al Darmaki, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, opened the “Autism Around the World Conference” which was held in Zayed University, Dubai Campus and the accompanying exhibition. The conference is organized by the child early invention medical center in cooperation with the Ministries of Health and Education, Dubai Health Authority, UAE Medical Association and other related organizations.

The conference was attended by Dr. Ali Ahmed Bin Shakar, President of UAE Medical Association, Dr. Aisha Abdulla, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City and a number of health leading personalities.

Dr. Al Darmaki said: “We are pleased to be here today to open the conference that would help us face the challenges of autism not only locally but regionally and internationally. We all take the responsibilities in caring for these categories and it is our duty to provide them with a healthy and social environment and help them also pass this stage and search for the respond of the community members”.

Al Darmaki also added that all partners must cooperate in developing educational programs to modify the behaviors and communications of community members taking into account the healthy lifestyles of the society and societal care for these categories. The conference also allows advisors from all over the world to highlight the positive and negative sides of autism.

He said: “The efforts of the conferences enable experts and professionals to take the right decisions towards children with autism. It also ensures the efforts of the Ministry of Health to cooperate with related authorities to provide the required and needed assistance for special needs categories generally and autism children particularly”.

He also lauded the efforts of the speakers and experts of the conference who gathered to discuss this humanitarian deed.

Al Darmaki called all society members to collaborate and satisfy the needs of children with autism in the Gulf States and Middle East region through increasing dissemination about autism, supporting specialized centers and achieving quality in healthcare field.




On the sidelines of the conference, about 19 seminars will be organized to discuss the use of bio medical treatment, disorders of autism and factors causing these disorders, laboratory tests and the role of vitamins and nutritional supplements resulting from malnutrition.

The conference will also highlight the problems associated with autism such as epilepsy, hyperactivity and visual rehabilitation, usage of alternative therapy, effective physical education and sports, effective programs for children and adolescents with autism.