OMPACO was founded in 2002 as a non-profit (501.c.3) organization by Martha Collins and her colleagues from Boston.
OMPACO grew out of the work of a handful of committed physicians and concerned individuals. Our activities began as several independent projects which we have now collected under the OMPACO umbrella.
While working in the Department of Psychiatry at Muhimbili Medical Center in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Dr. Martha Collins and parents of children with medical and psychological conditions, founded two organizations specific for children with epilepsy and autism; Parents Organization for Children with Epilepsy Tanzania (POCET) and the National Parents Association for Children with Autism Tanzania (NACA).
POCET
POCET's aim was to provide anti-epilepsy medications for members of the organization, engage in educational activities for parents and caregivers of children with epilepsy and provide health education about epilepsy to children in the primary schools. POCET became a Tanzanian registered non-profit organization with a membership of about 400 people. Included in it's achievements are ongoing provision of medications for epilepsy and ongoing health education programs.
NACA
NACA's aim was to provide educational services for the children with autism. NACA became a Tanzanian registered non-profit organization in 1998. Their achievements include opening a special classroom for children with autism at the Msimbazi Mseto Primary School.
A great impetus for the consolidation and foundation of OMPACO in the United States followed a research visit by Dr. Susan Folstein, Dr. Martha Collins and Ray Mankoski to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in July, 2001.
Dr. Collins had continued her contacts with parents and teachers of NACA, who agreed to participate in their research. The project's aim was to gather genetic information from children and families of children with autism. This was intended to contribute to Dr. Folstein's ongoing genetic research in autism. While there, they worked closely with Ella Mgalla the head teacher of the Autism Unit at the Dar es Salaam Primary School.
This unit under the direction of the Ministry of Education provides educational services for several children with autism. The program works in cooperation with the Department of Psychiatry at Muhimbili Medical Center that provides social work support for the unit. Compared to similar programs in the United States, it is extremely underdeveloped and in great need of teaching and medical resources.
Upon Dr. Folstein's return, her research team, led by Deborah Arin, actively sought donations from American Corporations to provide teaching materials for the teachers and children. Through the generous donations of Therapro, Boise-Cascade, Mayer-Johnson and the National Cristina Foundation, two pallets of educational supplies were sent to the autism unit June 26th of 2002.
Twenty-seven boxes in total were filled with basic supplies, such as communication books, therapy balls, paper, tape, pens, Mayer-Johnson software and computers. The cost of sending these goods overseas was quoted at $7,000 and thanks to an anonymous donation the shipment was made possible.
In addition $400.00 was donated by Vaccess Health Pharmaceutical company to purchase netting and gloves to prevent acute encephalitis secondary to malaria in infants and toddlers. This was found to be one of the major causes of autism during the research visit.
