ABEOKUTA– As part of activities marking the 2021 World Albinism Day, The Albino Foundation will embark on a public enlightenment program for members and residents’ of Ogun State in order to draw government attention on the need to support the growing population of albinos in the country.
The Ogun State Co-ordinator, Amb. Onuiri Peace 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.
She stated this in a statement made available to The News Ville in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Friday, saying that the theme for the ceremony is, Albinism and Skin Cancer: The need for everone’s involvement’.
Marking her 45th birthday on the same day, the coordinator noted that, 99% of persons with albinism are susceptible to skin cancer, adding 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.
Onuiri 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.
“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’’, Onuiri emphasised.
