Sharjah: After years of focusing on autism therapy for affected children, the UAE is now shifting its focus towards preventing autism — or at least minimising the number of cases.
This comes after the Sharjah Baby Friendly Campaign led the country’s first session focused exclusively on how to lower a child’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorders through breast-feeding.
The session was held at the Human Lactation Conference at Rashid Hospital in Dubai. It was presented by Manal Abu Fakher, whose decade of experience in the UAE has involved helping mothers to embrace all aspects of lactation and enlisting the support of public health facilities. Her in-depth expertise in paediatrics has given her valuable interaction with autistic children.
Breast-feeding
Children with autism often struggle with emotional bonding, which is facilitated by the oxytocin system. However, it has been found that breast-fed children have higher oxytocin levels, boosting their chances of evading autism. Researchers have confirmed that breast-feeding significantly strengthens the nervous system of both the child and mother.
