As the global community marks the 2024 International Albinism Awareness Day, a non-governmental organization named Initiative for Advancement of the Albinism Cause is seeking assistance to maintain its skin cancer surgery initiative for individuals with albinism.
The Founder of INAAC, Joy Odigie, presented this request today in Benin, the capital of Edo State.
International Albinism Awareness Day falls on June 13 each year, with this year’s theme being ’10 years of IAAD: A decade of collective progress’. This date holds significance as it was when the initial UN resolution on albinism was passed in 2013.
The theme for this year underscores the joint endeavors undertaken in the last ten years to enhance understanding, acceptance, and backing for people living with albinism.
In 2014, the United Nations officially marked June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day. Joy Odigie emphasized that individuals with albinism are vulnerable to skin cancer due to the absence or limited presence of melanin in their skin.
Odigie noted, “Melanin pigmentation gives the skin its dark colouration as well as provides natural protection for the skin against the harmful effects of the sun rays.
“When persons with albinism have prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays of the sun, they can develop skin tumours, freckles, and skin cancers.”
Odigie stated that since the program’s launch two years ago, four individuals have received support, and another four are currently awaiting assistance, highlighting the program’s progress and ongoing impact.
“We partner with a hospital in Benin to run subsidised skin tumours and cancer surgeries. The hospital offers a 20 to 30 per cent discount to patients, while the NGO covers an additional 30 to 40 per cent of the remaining medical bills,” she noted.
The founder of the association revealed that despite the program’s success, the NGO is facing significant challenges in maintaining its operations due to limited financial resources and the exorbitant costs of medical care, threatening the sustainability of the initiative.
“For instance, a type of surgery that used to cost about N120,000 now goes for about N250,000 due to the high cost of medical services and consumables.
“Also, some of the patients find it difficult to pay the subsided amount while those who live aside from Benin City find it difficult to pay transportation fees to access treatment at the hospital.
“We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians, government and Non-Governmental Organisations to support these subsided surgeries and if possible make it a free surgery programme’ she stated.
Odigie noted that the 2024 theme for the IAAD, “10 Years of Collective Progress,” highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing the well-being of individuals with albinism.
