UGC okays IPNA as a full-fledged institute

The University Grant Commission (UGC) has approved the "Establishment of Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA)" as a full-fledged institute, reports bdnews24.com.

With this approval, it becomes the first-ever institute of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the university said in a statement on Tuesday.

The BSMMU academic council and syndicate last year gave their approval to the IPNA, which started journey in 2014 as a project of the health ministry with the support of WHO's autism expert Saima Wazed Hossain--daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The institute had previously gone under the name Centre for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children (CNAC) established in 2010 led by Prof Dr Shaheen Akhter, a paediatric neurologist.

The IPNA provides comprehensive services for autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.

It ensures a 'safe environment for children with autism' where they can learn to develop to their full potential.

This institute also helps in disseminating disability and autism related knowledge and skills for doctors, teachers, and parents, the university said.

The centre had won a national award last year for outstanding performance on awareness building and tertiary level services on autism.