Rios Christ statue lit up in blue to raise awareness for autism

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Rios Christ statue lit up in blue to raise awareness for autism

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Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue received a blue lighting to raise awareness for autism.

02 April,2011 09:14 pm

The Brazilian citys celebrations for World Autism Day also included a religious service on top of the Corcovado mountain attended by dozens of children who suffer with autism.According to a Brazilian government survey, autism occurs in 1 in 110 children; a rate which is similar worldwide. Autism is a treatable disorder, but many people are never diagnosed or receive appropriate treatment. Autism can provoke from moderate to severe medical issues including gastrointestinal problems, immune system dysfunction, and metabolic abnormalities.Mariel Mendes Lopes, head of Rio s Autism Institute, said the Brazilian government does not provide enough information about the disorder. “This will help raise awareness regarding the rights of people with autism, a syndrome which we dont know much about, but which today is globally recognised. Today we are going through an autism epidemic and few people know about it. The government doesnt give this issue enough attention and we need to raise awareness among the population regarding this syndrome,” Lopes said.