FRIA — Kazaliou Balde enrolled in the Salim Foundation for Children with Autism in 2023. Balde was diagnosed with autism at a hospital in Conakry after he dragged himself along the ground instead of walking. As a small child, he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating.

Balde's family in Guinea consulted a traditional healer who suggested protective amulets for his condition. Kadiatou Diallo, Balde's mother, said that some suggested she take him to the bush and throw him away. "I refused to consider these negative judgments. I refused to take him out of school," Diallo said. Balde's teachers stated he "has no provision for school."

Mariam Aisha Barry founded the Salim Foundation for Children with Autism, a free school registered with Guinea's educational authorities that does not receive government funding. The foundation teaches 15 students with three teachers. "Our mission is to break the stigma surrounding autism through awareness-raising, family training and advocacy for better care. These children deserve acceptance, understanding, education and unconditional love," Barry said.

Dr. Alhassane Cherif, a psychologist and clinician, said, "In Guinea, the care for autism is very poor." According to Cherif, private organizations and nonprofits are the only entities addressing autism and training staff to identify children in Guinea. Diallo's husband died in a road accident. "My most ardent wish is that he knows how to read and write," she said.

The government of Guinea does not keep records on autism. The World Health Organization stated that about one in 127 people worldwide had autism in 2021 but noted that autism prevalence in many low- and middle-income countries remains unknown. A 2023 study in the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders described Sub-Saharan Africa as "critically understudied" in autism research.

Schools for children with autism in Guinea can cost up to $300 per month, while the minimum wage is 550,000 Guinea francs ($63) a month. The World Bank indicates that 43.7% of citizens in Guinea live below the poverty line. Guinea has a population of approximately 15 million people.