By Makutu Manneh
Four leading autism-focused organisations in The Gambia have joined forces to establish the Gambia Autism Societies (GAS), a new national coalition dedicated to raising awareness, strengthening advocacy, and providing support for individuals with autism and their families.
The coalition aims to foster collaboration among organisations, promote inclusivity, and create a unified platform to enhance services and advocacy efforts across the country.
Speaking at the official launch, Rod Hewes, chairman of the Autism Society of The Gambia, explained that the idea for the coalition emerged during Autism Awareness Month in April, when it became clear that several groups were working independently toward the same goal. He noted that while each organization has been advocating in its own way, a united platform allows us to amplify voices, strengthen awareness, and build a more inclusive society that recognizes and supports autistic individuals.
“We, as a new alliance, are going to seek to amplify the voices of autistic individuals and their families and strengthen awareness and build a more inclusive society that takes note of the person who is autistic,” Hewes said.
He emphasized the need to challenge misconceptions, noting that autistic children are often wrongly viewed as mentally ill. “That is not the case—it is a neurodivergent condition,” he clarified, adding that the greatest challenge remains the lack of public awareness. Hewes also expressed gratitude to partners, media, community members, and stakeholders for their continued support.
Representing the Ministry of Health, Jerreh Camara, Programme Manager for Vector Control, commended the initiative. He stressed that autism should not be regarded as an illness but as a condition that affects social interaction and communication. “The ministry is working in all regions to ensure the well-being of Gambian people. We are grateful to be working with the alliance,” he said.
Other coalition representatives echoed their commitment to advocacy and support. Algasim Bah, legal adviser for the Gambia Autism Support and Advocacy Network (GASAN), said their organisation was inspired by research that revealed a serious lack of autism support in the country. “And we realize that autism is indeed lacking support in The Gambia, so we decided to form an organization and also contribute our quota towards the advocacy of autism and support the families.”
Pa Omar Sawaneh, representing Together for Autism Gambia, noted that the organisation’s founder was personally inspired by her autistic daughter. “We are here to give the underprivileged kids the right mind and strength to be part of us. We all have a common goal,“ he said.
The coalition is composed of four member organizations: Autism Society The Gambia, Together for Autism Gambia, Gambia Autism Support and Advocacy Network (GASAN), and the Autism Motherhood Group.