Chantal Biya Finding the Missing Pieces

Along the East River at the Water Club restaurant on 30th Street New-York, Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya was amongst the prominent attendees who joined Mrs Ban Soon-Taek, wife of the UN Secretary General, hosts Suzanne and Bob Wright of Autism Speaks, renowned fashion magnet Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee, scientists, as well as over ten First Spouses yesterday to discuss solutions to combat the global crisis of autism-a complex neurological disorder that inhabits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships. Over a breakfast table, with the sea breeze blowing across, the advocates against autism revealed that through science there is hope in curbing autism which is growing by day.

As early as 8:00 am New-York time on September 22, the challengers of the brain disorder made their way to The Water Club restaurant for the third annual World Focus on Autism. Snapshots graced the arrival of the dignitaries. But exceptional about it all was the arrival of Cameroon’s First Lady which was acclaimed with applause from participants. Thereafter the bigwigs settled down to discuss some of the challenges in handling patients suffering from autism whose cause and cure remain unknown scientifically.

In her opening remarks, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek welcomed the international group on behalf of her husband. She stated that “Autism is so personal but also so global for no matter your country, religion, wealth, autism effects are same at all level”. Mrs Ban Soon-Taek called for massive solidarity movement towards those living with autism. Fashion Magnet and co-hosts of the event, Tommy Hilfiger expressed support for Autism Speaks saying “My wife Dee and I are delighted to be participating and lending our support to the cause whose prevalence is rising here and around the globe at an alarming rate”.

The host Suzanne Wright explained that through “Autism Speaks” which is the largest autism science and advocacy organisation, there is hope for a solution against autism one day. While noting that Autism Speaks has made enormous strides by committing over 142.5 million US Dollas to research through 2014 and developing innovative new resources for families, Suzanne Wright who is the grandmother to an autism patient urged First Spouses like Mrs. Biya, First ladies of Cyprus, Hondrus, the Republic of Macedonia, St Lucia, Palau and Latvia in garnering support from landmarks in their country for “Light It up Blue” which is a campaign in which iconic buildings around the world will turn their light blue so as to create awareness and needed attention to the global health disorder that now affects one in every 110 children and one in 70 boys.

During the second annual UN conference on autism last year in New-York, Mrs Chantal Biya expressed her wish to be an advocate against the disease. Founder of the Chantal Biya Foundation, which handles children with various health crises, Cameroon’s First Lady is not indifferent to the plight of autism patients as well as families taking care of such people. In a bid to reinforce the care given to autism patients the Secretary General of the Chantal Biya Foundation, Habissou Bidoung and the Executive Secretary of African Synergy against AIDs and Suffering, Jean Stéphane Biatcha joined the First lady during the event to share knowledge on how to rally against and ultimately conquer autism in Cameroon. Mrs. Biya patronised activities marking the fourth edition of autism day in Cameroon last year which was an event aimed at breaking the myth surrounding the disease.

Brenda YUFEH