Doctors in Iraq have limited capabilities when it comes to diagnosing autism or treating it properly, whether using traditional or modern methods, and seem unconcerned about the dangerous repercussions of this disease and its rising rates.
Dr. Khaldoun Hamid al-Hafiz, a pediatrician who specializes in treating neurological disorders, including epilepsy and autism, confirmed this unfortunate reality in a phone call with Al-Monitor. Experienced with diagnosing and treating autism specifically — he worked in several British centers specializing in the treatment of autism — he's trying to support the efforts of the community centers in Baghdad that recently opened their doors to autistic children.