TheCable

The Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the college of medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG) has launched the Nigerian autism screening questionnaire (NASQ) web app.

The first-ever freely accessible online tool for parents and caregivers in Nigeria was developed by Autism Speaks in collaboration with Bloom Buddy.

According to the developer, the app would help in the early detection of autism and intervention.

“The app tools alert parents and caregivers to their children’s autism symptoms and encourage them to speak with their healthcare providers and explore appropriate services and support, thereby helping to improve the conditions of many children,” a statement issued by the developers reads.

“This development helped to reinforce Nigeria’s position as a frontrunner in the field of autism.

“The NASQ offers a new tool for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects over 75 million people across the world.

“After six years of development and testing, with proven success in communities, the NASQ seeks to be a necessary tool for early autism detection.

“It is in its intermediate development stages as a screening instrument, with the second phase of its validation study ongoing.

“The importance of NASQ is quite considerable. It offers the possibility of earlier identification, support and intervention for children with autism at a stage when it can have the most impact.

“Moreover, it is a beacon of hope for communities with limited access to autism assessment and diagnosis. In addition, it can set the benchmark for similar initiatives worldwide in communities with low resources.

“The app is now available to all Nigerians on the Bloom Buddy website for in-app use on phones, tablets and computers.”

Sola Fatoba, chief executive officer (CEO) of Bloom Buddy, said his organisation aims to provide families with reliable and “readily available resources, to provide critical support amidst the intricacies of navigating autism care”.

“Our alliance with Autism Speaks in bringing this transformative tool to Nigerians fills us with immense pride.”

Andy Shih, chief science officer at Autism Speaks, added, “The launch of the NASQ web app underscores Autism Speaks’ dedication to providing accessible and effective autism screening tools, particularly in underserved regions”.

“Through our partnership with Bloom Buddy and researchers in Nigeria, we have developed an e-version of a scientifically validated, culturally sensitive tool to help address Nigeria’s needs.”