Saima Wazed

Some Lesser Known Facts About Saima Wazed

• Sainma is the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

• Since November 1, 2023, Saima has served as the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization.

• Saima is a licenced School Psychologist. She has vast experience working with autism and other neurodevelopmental issues.

• In 2011, Saima organized the first South Asian conference on Autism in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Saima has advocated for a resolution on “Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders” at the World Health Assembly, and the resolution was adopted.

• Saima also serves as the chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

• Autism Speaks Inc., a non-profit organization focused on autism awareness and research in the United States, commended her for leading “a truly global effort to garner support for this resolution”.

• She was appointed as a global autism advocate for the World Health Organization’s 25-member Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health for four years starting in 2014.

• In November 2016, Wazed assumed the position of chairperson at the UNESCO International Jury Board meeting for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

• In April 2017, Wazed was appointed as the WHO Champion for Autism in South-East Asia.

• In July 2017, she was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for autism in the South-East Asia Region by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Since 2022, Wazed has been a dedicated member of the Commission for Universal Health, which was convened by Chatham House and is co-chaired by Helen Clark and Jakaya Kikwete.

• Saima also holds the position of chairperson at the Shuchona Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating, conducting research, and providing capacity building in the areas of disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health.

• Despite being born in Bangladesh as the granddaughter of the Father of the Nation, Saima’s earliest memories revolve around her upbringing in India as a refugee.