Saima Hossain with the First Spouses and dignitaries

USANEWS: Ms. Saima Hossain, daughter of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh attended a special programme  for the Third Annual World Focus on Autism, hosted by Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism research and advocacy organization on 22nd September in New York.

Mrs. Ban Soon-teak, wife of the U.N. Secretary-General and Hosts Suzanne and Bob Wright of Autism Speaks joined by co-hosts Dee and Tommy Hilfiger and more than 10 First Spouses discussed solutions to combat the global crisis of autism.Bob Wright, Autism Speaks Co-founder, implored the first spouses to join the Global Autism Public Health initiative. He explained to all present that “Autism Speaks is here to help you develop a program that is customized according to your countries needs, infrastructure, capacity, and available resources.” Mr. Wright continued to say, “We can work together to develop innovative, cost-effective, and feasible public health solutions that speak to your community.”

Other speakers at the World Focus on Autism included Geri Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks’ Chef Science officer, Andy Shih, Ph.D., Autism Speaks’ Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Liri Berisha, M.D. President of the Albanian Children’s Foundation and wife of the Albanian Prime Minister. Other prominent attendees included Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon; Mrs. Elsie Christofias, First Lady of Cyprus; Mrs. Rosa Elena de Lobo, First Lady of Honduras; Mrs. Maja Ivanova, First Lady of the Republic of Macedonia; Mrs. Suzana Jolevska, Spouse of the Ambassador to the UN for Macedonia; Mrs. Rosella Nestor Kind, First Lady of St. Lucia; Mrs. Valeria Toribiong, First Lady of Palau; and Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, First Lady of Latvia.

The scope of autism, which affects approximately 67 million people worldwide and was granted and annual day of awareness by the United Nations in 2007, was represented by officials from four continents.