Post Zika: ‘invisible children’ need recognition and support

A new joint Academy report on childhood neurodevelopment disorders in Brazil calls for more to be done to bring children suffering from these conditions into the healthcare system, was published today (Friday 20 July).

The report points to a serious lack of evidence based interventions to help children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and calls for improvements in identification and assessment of these children.

The report is the result of The UK Academy of Medical Sciences, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the Brazilian National Academy of Medicine joint workshop in Rio de Janeiro in November 2017.

The workshop brought together 40 leading researchers and policy makers from Brazil, the UK and other countries to consider the international response to the Brazilian Zika crisis.

Professor Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira, Co-chair of the workshop and Senior Paediatrics Researcher and Professor of Neonatal Growth and Nutrition, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, said:

“The tragic effects of the Zika epidemic forced The Brazilian Ministry of Health to look at childhood neurodevelopment with more care and attention.

“Early detection and diagnosis of developmental delay must now be recognised as a priority and should be included in all childhood healthcare initiatives.

“We must help those children who have been out of reach of the current health system. To tackle the problems uncovered by Zika we need funding, a centralised database and local planning and evaluation. This is a huge task and must include the education system as well as the medical system.”

The burden of neurological disorders is dangerously underestimated in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). This is mostly due to high levels of childhood sickness, lack of inclusion in the system due to stigma and limited reach of diagnostic centres.

There are an estimated 250 million children with neurodevelopmental delay or disability across the world. Globally, the number of children suffering from disorders of brain function is thought to be on the increase, particularly autism and ADHD.

Professor David Edwards FMedSci, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences who Co-chaired the workshop and Professor of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine, King's College London said:

“The Brazilian Zika crisis was the biggest epidemic of the virus ever known. Not only has it created a group of children with brain damage, but it has drawn attention to the even larger number of ‘invisible children’ who grow up with unknown or undetected neurodevelopmental disorders. They desperately need help and support but are not getting it. They deserve better.”

The report highlighted how in Brazil, current epidemiological understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders is imperfect, often based on limited data. There is a need for population-based surveillance for neurodevelopmental delay and disability, better metrics for countries, and research across different contexts.

Professor David Edwards FMedSci, added:

“Childhood neurodevelopment defects must be realised as a healthcare and funding priority. Most importantly, health care systems need to set up structures to identify the ‘invisible children’ and their needs and train staff to support them and their families.

“To improve the visibility and care of the millions of severely impaired children we need commitment and vision from society, government and the medical professions. We must apply structures that have been trialled in the Zika areas of Brazil and in other countries in a consistent way across the rest of Brazil, and internationally.”

The workshop and report were both funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, which forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment, and aims to support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.

To see The Guardian's exclusive on this story visit this site 

Visit our GCRF webpage to read more about the fund.

To find out more about supporting the work of the Academy, please see our dedicated support us webpage . 

 

Key contacts


Mentoring Masterclass - April 2024

Book Now

Clinical Academics in Training Annual Conference 2024

Book Now

Mentoring Masterclass - June 2024

Book Now
View more
 
 
 
 
 
 
FB Twitter Instagram Youtube