The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving services and expanding public awareness on autism, citing the condition as a growing social challenge that requires urgent and coordinated action.
Dr. Mwinyi made the remarks on April 20, 2026, at the State House in Zanzibar during a meeting with leaders of Lukiza Autism Foundation, who visited to introduce their work and outline ongoing efforts to support children with autism.
He said autism among children continues to affect many families across the country, stressing that effective response requires strong collaboration between the government, health experts and development stakeholders.
He noted that limited public understanding of autism, coupled with a shortage of trained specialists, remains a major barrier to early diagnosis and proper care.
“The government is taking deliberate steps to address these challenges, including increasing the number of qualified professionals and strengthening awareness programmes for the public,” he said.
Dr. Mwinyi directed the Ministry of Health to deepen cooperation with experts and institutions in order to enhance early detection and expand access to quality services for children with autism.
He also underscored the importance of integrating autism awareness into school programmes to build understanding at community level.
He further reaffirmed that the government will continue to support institutions working to improve the wellbeing of children with autism, noting that partnerships with non-state actors remain critical in delivering inclusive health and education services.
On her part, the Founder and Executive Director of Lukiza Autism Foundation, Hilda Nkabe, said the country still faces significant gaps in access to specialised services and dedicated care centres.
She said the foundation is expanding its outreach programmes to educate communities from families to schools on recognising early signs of autism and seeking timely support.
According to Nkabe, an estimated two million children in Tanzania show signs associated with autism, while between 14,000 and 20,000 require specialised diagnosis and close care, highlighting the need for sustained national efforts to address the condition.
