i would like to close with this statement that dr. shih made and i think again it capitalizes why we're concerned. he note in his testimony as child mortality decreases, simple math predicts an increase in the number of children with developmental disabilities. so instead of seeing mortality and developmental disorders like autism as two distinct challenges they should be tackled as parts of the same problem. continuing in his statement, you said just a few moments ago, autism speaks and our partners around the world believe that by addressing autism and related disorders now, south africa and other developing countries can get ahead of the curve, help maximize outcomes for affected individuals and families and minimize long-term cost to society. we have a pandemic with autism. hopefully we can launch and do much more with the global health initiative and all the other related efforts at the u.n. that and the country-specific level to mitigate this devastating developmental disorder. i thank you and we are adjourned. [inaudible conversatio

again, dr. shih you mentioned in your testimony, and it's worth quoting again, 67 million people or 1% of the world's population is affected with some form of asd, it's higher than aids, diabetes, and cancer combined. directer of the mental health world health organization in his -- this is part of the record -- says tens of millions of people are estimated to be affected in after africa only. you talked about the numbers in south korea being higher. when we study it, it's the tip of the iceberg phenomena where it's worse than we thought. i'm wondering again, and i asked this earlier, but i ask you with emphasis because i have raised it at the u.s. agency for international development, this needs to be made a priority, and i hope it becomes one in the global health initiative because we have a, you know, pandemics are reserved for infectious diseases, but with quotes around it, it is a pandemic largely unrecognized, and it's about time and our hope is with the hearing to begin with vigor and a fresh

again, dr. shih you mentioned in your testimony, and it's worth quoting again, 67 million people or 1% of the world's population is affected with some form of asd, it's higher than aids, diabetes, and cancer combined. directer of the mental health world health organization in his -- this is part of the record -- says tens of millions of people are estimated to be affected in after africa only. you talked about the numbers in south korea being higher. when we study it, it's the tip of the iceberg phenomena where it's worse than we thought. i'm wondering again, and i asked this earlier, but i ask you with emphasis because i have raised it at the u.s. agency for international development, this needs to be made a priority, and i hope it becomes one in the global health initiative because we have a, you know, pandemics are reserved for infectious diseases, but with quotes around it, it is a pandemic largely unrecognized, and it's about time and our hope is with the hearing to begin with vigor and a fresh