Call to assist people living with albinism

Fortunate Gora Mashonaland West Correspondent
There are fears that at least 300 people living with albinism in the country could have developed skin cancer last year alone after failing to get sunscreen lotions to protect them from harmful sun rays. This was compounded by the high temperatures that have been experienced in recent years.

In an interview, Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Loveness Mainato said people living with albinism needed urgent assistance from Government and other well-wishers with resources to prevent skin damage.
“We have a plus or minus 300 albinos who developed skin cancer last year and we are afraid that if urgent intervention is not made this number will rise if high temperatures persist,’’ she said.

“We are facing difficulties in accessing sunscreen lotions, so as an organisation we are appealing for more resources that protect the vulnerable albinos from skin damage and we are also appealing for the capacitating of the albino society by Government.’’

Mrs Mainato said high temperatures prevailing in most parts of the country had a negative impact on the skin of people living with albinism, leading to them developing skin cancer.

According to the Meteorological Services Department areas such as Kariba, Victoria Falls and Beitbridge had maximum temperatures ranging between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius in recent days.

Ms Mainato said people living with albinism in the rural areas were the most affected because of failure to access sunscreen lotions.

She bemoaned stigma and discrimination still being faced by people living with albinism.
“Stigma, discrimination and segregation aare still high in the country.

“There are greatly marginalised in every sector of life, be it social, economic empowerment and political aspects,’’ she said.
Their rights like everyone else, she said, should be respected.

A girl living with albinism said she suffered skin burns and opted to drop out of school at Grade 7 after failing to cope up with stigma at school.

Mashonaland West Ministry of Health and Child Care promotions officer Mr George Kambondo said people living with albinism’s skin was sensitive and needed special care to prevent them from developing skin cancer and sunburn.