ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — More than half a million dollars has been allocated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to establish an autism centre in Erbil, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Friday.
“I understand the challenges people with autism and their families are facing in Kurdistan,” he tweeted. “That's why we approved $585,240 funding for an autism centre in Erbil city – ensuring all children with autism receive the support needed.”
“We plan to invest in centres across our region,” added the PM.
According to the Kurdistan Autism Group, mechanisms for dealing with autism in Kurdistan don’t meet international standards.
Almost 3,000 people in the Kurdistan Region are known to have autism but less than 20 receive formal treatment, according to Kamal Jabari, head of the society.
Currently, there are 20 autism centres in the Kurdistan Region, 17 of which are private. The centres were closed for months during coronavirus-related lockdowns earlier this year.
According to the National Autistic Society (NAS) in the UK, 1 percent of the world population has autism.
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