Panama gets first autism center in former ambassadorial residence

The former  residence of the UK ambassador to Panama will become the first center for autistic children in the Republic of Panama, a project initiated by First Lady Marta Linares.

The opening of the premises on Avenida Balboa  near Santo Tomas Hospital,  will take place on April 2 but the facilities will not  become operational until later in the month  or early May when refurbishing of plumbing and electrical services is completed.

According to the First Lady the center will continue the work of Ann Sullivan Centre Peru, founded in 1979. Staff  who will serve at least 120 children with autism, and attention span deficit   were trained at the Peru facilities

This is an initiative  that later will  expand to other  provinces, said the First Lady.

There are no statistics that indicate the number of children, youth and adults who have some degree of autism in Panama but in the U.S.  one in every  150 children, is diagnosed with the disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The number of cases increases by an average  of 10% to 17%,  every year, according to the Autism Society of America.

In April, 2011, President Ricardo Martinelli, designated April as autism month with the  aim of promoting activities for the dissemination of information about the  condition and its early detection and treatment.

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the areas of language, imagination and social interaction. Among the most common signs seen in children  are avoidence of looking at you, ave tantrums for no apparent reason and  tend to be isolated or inward looking and display repetitive movements (flapping).