Martha Ongwane gazes adoringly at her lively, giggling four-year-old daughter Rachael, a stark contrast to two years ago when desperation nearly led her to the unthinkable. Overwhelmed by Rachael’s autism diagnosis—marked by non-verbal communication, biting, and constant movement—Martha sank into depression. Neighbors in northern Malawi shunned her, urging her to lock Rachael away due to widespread ignorance about the condition.

A Desperate Turning Point

Martha recalls pouring poison into a cup, thinking, “It would be better if she died because that would mean she would rest and that would be the end of our problems.” Yet, her heart intervened. “I changed my mind and cried so much,” she shares softly.

Today, mother and daughter bond warmly in their Mzuzu home. Rachael climbs into Martha’s lap as the 33-year-old prepares vegetables alongside nsima, Malawi’s staple maize porridge. This shift stems from expert intervention after a visit to Mzuzu Central Hospital, which referred them to Saint John of God, a Catholic Church-funded organization offering mental health services and a school for children with special needs.

Counseling supported Martha and her husband, connecting them to a network that addressed Rachael’s challenges and ended their isolation.

Autism Challenges in Malawi

World Health Organization statistics indicate over 60 million people globally live on the autism spectrum, a neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. While some exhibit strengths like intense focus and innovative thinking, low-resource countries like Malawi prioritize only severe cases, fostering stigma.

Malawi, with over 22 million people, has just two developmental pediatricians and three consultant psychiatrists. Autism lacks a term in Chichewa, the primary language; it’s often mislabeled as “ozelezeka” (mentally challenged) or “ofuntha” (troublesome).

Shifting Community Perceptions

Saint John of God hosts awareness sessions for religious leaders, Christian and Muslim alike, in Mzuzu community centers. Participants initially cite witchcraft as autism’s cause—a vicar notes bewitchment possibilities, while another blames spells on pregnant women.

Christopher Mhone, from Saint John of God, counters these views by demonstrating practical interventions. Reflecting on cases like Martha’s, he states, “For a woman to come to a point where she feels like she should kill her child—as a nation we have failed her. Her burden has become so impossible to bear.”

Support relies heavily on NGOs and charities. Basic services exist at district levels, but only Zomba Central Hospital offers government psychiatric care. Mhone adds, “Autism is not even mentioned in the Disability Act. That tells you about the issue of visibility.”

Dangers of Traditional Healing

With limited healthcare, many seek traditional healers. Natasha Lusinje, in Lilongwe, believes witchcraft silenced her non-verbal five-year-old son Shalom, who also struggles to self-feed. Nearly three-quarters of Malawians hold witchcraft beliefs.

Natasha visited healer Maness Sanjelekani, who chanted about satanic causes and administered herbal baths, drinks, and skin incisions over three weeks—for 26,500 kwacha ($15). Sanjelekani claims two autism types: divine (unchanging) and satanic (curable), though medically unfounded. When pressed, she insists, “I am trying to save his life.” Shalom showed no improvement.

Progress Through Specialized Education

Martha now dresses Rachael in her school uniform for Saint John of God’s program, serving over 600 children yearly. Rachael speaks more, participates eagerly in class, and joins friends in songs.

In the gardens, youths with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism tend crops. Mhone urges, “Disability is ability, in a different way. If society understands that, there will be less stigmatization.”

Martha cherishes the transformation, haunted by past guilt. “When I look at her, I feel so guilty… I adore her now,” she says, hoping her story aids other mothers.