Cabinet hails Saima Wazed Putul

Secretariat Correspondent: The cabinet adopted a thanksgiving motion congratulating Saima Wazed Hossain as she has been awarded the International Champion Award in recognition of her relentless support for autistic people and innovative work to fight autism.

Saima, autism and mental health expert on the Advisory Panel of the World Health Organization (WHO), was congratulated at the regular cabinet meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

The award was given at the annual programme of Shema Kolainu, a New York based School and Center for Children with Autism and its affiliated institution ‘ICare4Autism’ at Princeton NY club on July 25.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Masud Bin Momen received the award on behalf of the president of the National Advisory Committee on Autism of Bangladesh and the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saima Wazed.

Shema Kolainu, established in 1998, is the first school and centre for children with Autism in New York. The institution is currently providing services to children on the autism spectrum from all communities, irrespective of their culture creed and faith in all five boroughs of New York City.

Better known by her nickname Putul, Saima was earlier designated as “WHO Champion for Autism” in South-East Asia Region. Last month, WHO South-East Asia Region appointed Saima Wazed Hossain as 'Goodwill Ambassador for Autism' in the regions of 11 countries.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 7, 2017/Asad/Amirul