The Albino Foundation will on Sunday embark on a public enlightenment for members and residents as part of activities to mark the International Albinism Awareness Day celebration, also to draw government attention for need to support them.
Penpushing reports that, the Ogun State Coordinator, Ambassador Peace Onuri made this known in a statement, explaining that the celebration is a follow up to the United Nations General Assembly declaration at its sixty ninth session that June 13 every year should be celebrated as International Albinism Awareness Day.
The coordinator who will also clock 45 on the day, said the theme for the ceremony is,Albinism and Skin Cancer: The need for everone’s involvement’, noting that, 99% of persons with albinism are susceptible to skin cancer.
Penpushing further reports that, she added that it is estimated that there are over 27,000 persons with albinism affected with skin cancer in Nigeria, lamenting that, majority of these people do not have access to treatment due to poverty, ignorant, myths and misconceptions about albinism
‘The International Albinism Awareness Day celebration is to draw attention to states and members of the public on the issues and challenges faced by persons with albinism and albinism community all over the world’, she stated.
Penpushing also reports that,Onuri explained that this was as a result of the widespread discrimination, stigmatization, dehumanization and brutal killings of persons with albinism (PWA) around the world, especially in Africa. .
The coordinator said need for greater advocacy and sensitization cannot be over emphasized as the challenges that persons with albinism face are daunting especially, skin cancer,stressing that the sensitisation and awareness creation in the media will help to reduce the effect of skin cancer on persons with albinism especially those residing at the hinterlands where information is rare.
‘We are using this medium to inform the general public and persons with albinism in particular to stay out of the sun and ensure that they are protected from the sun in order to avoid skin cancer’.
‘The Ogun state chapter of the foundation is therefore, using this opportunity to continue to create awareness to the general public on what albinism is, its challenges and its management and to call on the general public to be part of this year’s celebration by supporting persons with albinism through education and enlightenment’,Onuri emphasised.
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