DAR ES SALAAM: BOARD Member of the Women Fund Tanzania Trust and Founder of the Nendiwe Feminist & Wellness Centre, Ms Mary Rusimbi, has urged society to abandon the perception that supporting people with autism is an act of charity, stressing instead that it is a fundamental matter of human rights.
Ms Rusimbi made the remarks at the weekend in Dar es Salaam during the fourth Autism Awareness Charity Gala Dinner, which also marked five years since the establishment of the Lukiza Autism Institute.
She commended Lukiza Autism for its significant contribution in shifting the narrative around autism from silence and stigma to advocacy, inclusion and collective responsibility. She said autism should not be viewed as an individual or family challenge, but rather as a social and national issue that requires collective action.
According to her, a society that guarantees rights and proper care for children with autism is investing in building a strong and productive workforce for the nation.
“There is a wide gap between the real needs of families raising children with autism and the existing social systems, and this gap is not only financial but also structural and emotional,” Ms Rusimbi said.
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She emphasised that because autism is often invisible, support is frequently treated as optional compassion rather than an obligation. As a result, caregiving responsibilities are unfairly placed on mothers, individual families or isolated institutions. “We must change this mindset and move toward a shared system of care that does not leave responsibility to one person, one family or even the government alone.
This is a collective national duty,” she stressed. Ms Rusimbi added that a society that values and protects all children, regardless of their differences, is one grounded in dignity, justice and solidarity.
On her part, Lukiza Autism Institute Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ms Hilda Nkabe, said the gala dinner had five key objectives: Celebrating five years of Lukiza’s work, recognising stakeholders who made positive social impact in 2025, officially launching Run 4 Autism 2026, providing parents and caregivers an opportunity to socialise and relax and fundraising to support a five-year project on wellbeing for children showing signs of autism.
Ms Nkabe noted that over the past five years, Lukiza has played a major role in raising autism awareness across Tanzania and promoting inclusive communities through initiatives such as Run 4 Autism Tanzania.
“To date, autism awareness education has reached approximately 30 per cent of Tanzanians through various media platforms and more than 250 university students have received professional training in inclusive support services,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lukiza Board Chairperson, Dr Edward Kija, said the institute has worked to improve early identification and access to health services, ensuring children with autism are not hidden but receive appropriate care.