The group said although there are laws against the discrimination of people with albinism and disabilities, they “are constantly stigmatised, harassed, and discriminated daily with no remedy in sight.”
The Albino Network of Association (TANA) Friday called for the inclusion of people with albinism and disabilities in government policies and programmes.
The group said although there are laws against the discrimination of people with albinism and disabilities, they âare constantly stigmatised, harassed, and discriminated daily with no remedy in sight.â
The Chairman of TANA, Jaiyeola Fatungase, made the call in Ojuelegba, Lagos, in commemoration of the International Albinism Awareness Day.
The International Albinism Awareness Day is marked annually on June 13. This yearâs theme is âStrength Beyond All Oddsâ.
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious genetic condition that results from lack of pigmentation or melanin, causing reduction of colour of the skin, hair, and eyes, causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light.
Mr Fatungase said skin cancer is the âgreatest health issueâ confronting people with albinism in Nigeria aside from vision impairment as a result of the lack of melanin composition.
He lamented that people with albinism are being deprived of their right to good and affordable healthcare, education and employment.
âAs one of the marginalised groups left farther behind, we must begin to be included in health interventions as envisaged by the maxim of âleaving no one behindâ propounded by the Sustainable Development Goals,â he said.
âLike other children with disabilities, educating children with albinism is very expensive, no thanks to non-availability and expensive assistive devices such as magnifiers, sunscreen, and sun-shielding clothing. Besides, the absence of reading materials in large print, magnifiers for reading, allotment of more time during exams due to vision impairment are some of the non-inclusive policies on education that hinder the performance of pupils with albinism.â
