People with albinism get sunscreen lotions

Admore Mbonda in Karoi

AT least 20 people with albinism in Karoi received sunscreen lotions and lipsticks to protect their skin from damage.

The timely donation was handed over to beneficiaries by Lion’s Club International Zone 1 D and Karoi Lion’s Club chairperson, Mr Takesure Musiiwa at a ceremony held in Karoi, on Monday.

Musiiwa said the kind gesture was necessitated by the need to alleviate the plight of people living with albinism, most of whom cannot afford the expensive lotions.

“On behalf of the zone and Karoi Lion’s Club, we have managed to seek some donations from the corporate world.

We have donated sunscreens and lipsticks to 20 people living with albinism.

“This is what we managed to donate as a gesture to say we live together, we are in one community, we are a family and we help each other. Where there is a need, there is a lion,” said Mr Musiiwa.

Some of the organisations that extended a helping hand in sourcing the sunscreens and lipsticks were Zimplats and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (ZimRights).

People with albinism have skin that is sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Exposure to the sun results in serious complications associated with albinism and increases risks of skin cancer as well as cracking and thickening of their skin.