Doha, Qatar: As Autism Acceptance Month spotlight on inclusion and understanding, healthcare leaders in Qatar are underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention in improving the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Assistant Medical Director of Children and Adolescent Services at the Primary Health Care Corporation, Dr. Sadriya Al Kohji stressed that timely action remains critical to achieving better developmental outcomes.
“The success of programmes provided for autism spectrum disorder depends on early screening, early diagnosis, and early intervention,” she said in a video message posted on Ministry of Public Health social media handles. “The earlier a diagnosis is made, the earlier the child can receive therapeutic services, which significantly improves outcomes on behavioural health and medical levels that we aim for.”
Dr. Al Kohji explained that the journey often begins at primary healthcare centres through routine well-baby clinic visits. “The journey typically begins with primary healthcare services through well-baby clinic visits at 18 months and 30 months, that is at one-and-a-half years and two-and-a-half years of age where early screening is conducted twice,” she said.
If developmental concerns arise during these stages, children are referred to specialised institutions such as Hamad Medical Corporation or Sidra Medicine for further evaluation. “There, the child is formally diagnosed and enrolled in early intervention programmes,” she added.
According to Dr. Al Kohji, this structured screening and referral pathway applies to all children accessing well-baby services across health centres, covering approximately 30,000 children annually. “All newborns typically receive care through primary healthcare centres. This process is monitored every six months to ensure that the required level of early screening and referral to specialised entities are maintained,” she said.
Globally, April is recognised as Autism Acceptance Month (formerly Autism Awareness Month) to promote understanding, inclusion, and acceptance of individuals on the autism spectrum. It also highlights the importance of support in education, employment, and daily life, while celebrating neurodiversity.
The month includes World Autism Awareness Day, which was established following a 2007 call by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and adopted by the United Nations without a vote.
In Qatar, national efforts are being strengthened through long-term planning and innovation. The Qatar Foundation Autism Strategy 2025–2035 outlines a comprehensive roadmap aimed at enhancing services and opportunities for individuals with autism. The strategy focuses on expanding inclusive education, leveraging artificial intelligence, advancing genetic research, and streamlining healthcare pathways.
Among its key targets are reducing the average age of diagnosis by 25 percent, increasing participation of individuals with autism in higher education and the workforce by 50 percent, boosting autism-focused technological innovations by 50 percent, and improving the quality of life for families by the same margin.
In 2016, Qatar Foundation launched Renad Academy, the country’s first specialised school for children with autism. This was followed in 2018 by the launch of the BARAKA–Qatar study at Sidra Medicine, aimed at building a comprehensive national autism database.
