Mombasa County is set to introduce early detection of autism and establish specialised schools as part of efforts to improve support for children living with developmental disabilities.
Speaking at Tononoka hall during Autism Awareness Day, Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir said the county will integrate early screening into routine public health services to help identify autism at an earlier stage.
“There’s nothing more important than detection,” he said. “A lot of parents realise that their child could be autistic at a late stage.”
He added that the county will push for screening to be conducted during regular clinic visits.
“The department of health needs to start doing all forms of early detection so that we can see and be able to know,” he said.
In the education sector, the county is also considering designating specific schools to cater exclusively for children with autism. The proposal aims to enhance specialised learning by grouping learners based on their needs.
“I think the department might want to now segment and say that this particular school will be able to handle children with autism alone,” the governor said.
Currently, children with disabilities are accommodated in more than 20 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the county, but officials say there is a need for more targeted facilities.
The plans come amid growing concern over rising autism cases in the county. According to National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Coast Region Coordinator Juliet Ruwa, about 720 children with autism are currently registered in Mombasa.
“Autism was not widely recognised before, but now the numbers are increasing,” she said.
Ruwa noted that existing specialised schools are limited and often inaccessible to many families, particularly in areas such as Jomvu, Changamwe and Kisauni.
“Our schools are not enough. We are asking for at least one school that will focus on the needs of children with autism,” she said.
She also called for expanded therapy services at the grassroots level.
“Our children need therapy, and if we can have occupational therapy in our dispensaries, it will help us a lot,” she said.
As part of ongoing measures to support persons with disabilities, the county has also been offering free disability assessment services to ease access to diagnosis and care.
“There should be no charges for any form of assessment,” the governor said, referring to an earlier policy by the county.