On the occasion of World's Autism Awareness Day, Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) hosted children who are beneficiaries of the Tbilisi Autism Center “Pyramid”. The event was organized by the TMA Public Health Club and involved various fun and educational activities with the involvement of the students. 

“We are delighted to be invited to TMA. Raising awareness about autism is very important, especially for medical students, because in many cases children with this spectrum have anxiety towards doctors and medical instruments. Accordingly, students need to know in general what the spectrum means, and how we can approach these children. Interest in fun activities is a leading factor for development not only in children who are on the spectrum but for all children in general. Here, now, a very good environment has been created. Children are calm, engaged, and work as a team, and I like that very much. The fact that several students are assigned to each child and are involved in the process with them is also very welcoming to the children” said Mariam Avkopashvili, a behavioral therapist at the Tbilisi Autism Center “Pyramid”.

As a part of the event, TMA students also presented the Georgian Public Health Student Association, within the framework of which a Public Health Club was established. The students spoke about the future plans and activities of the association.

“I think that celebrating World Autism Awareness Day is very important for us, as medical students. We know that there is neurodiversity around us, and as future doctors, we should take more care of raising awareness in society in this direction. Let us create a more empathetic environment for them and try to make their lives more diverse. The Georgian Public Health Student Association and the Public Health Club we founded at TMA echo this mission: to help them raise awareness, to be involved, and to respond to all the changes in healthcare around the world,” said TMA student, head of the Public Health Student Club, Ana Gabrichidze.