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| Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Health Minister |
By: Patrick Ugeh
With over six million Nigerians suffering from albinism
along with its numerous challenges, the Albino Foundation Thursday commenced
additional measures aimed at saving those with the condition from cancer and other threats.
As part of the measures, albinos were told Thursday at a
conference to herald a one-week National Albinism Day celebration that they
must be proactive to avoid anything that would endanger their lives.
A speaker, Dr. Stella Chijioke, said in her presentation on
“Healthy Living for Persons with Albinism” that albinos and other
Nigerians should also seek pre-marital
counselling to avoid the proliferation of albinism.
Noting that there was no cure for albinism, she said
treatment was often given to ease symptoms.
Founder/CEO of the Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle, urged the federal government to
declare May 5 as a national day for albinism to enable sufficient attention to
be paid to those with the condition.
Albinism is an inherited condition characterised by the lack
of the pigment melanin in the hair, skin or eyes, making those with the
condition susceptible to many diseases, most common of which is cancer of the
skin.
This year’s Albinism Day has the theme, “Albinism and
National Development: Strengthening Advocacy for National Policy on Albinism.”
He said: “People with albinism get free cancer treatment. We
have been enjoying that. But once again, it is only in Abuja. And you can
imagine over six million persons with albinism focusing on just one hospital.
All the six million of us are susceptible to having skin cancer; including me.”
He decried the “cultural practices which discriminate and
unleash inhuman treatment on albinos in Nigeria.”
Such practices, he added, started in Delta State where
people killed albinos, using them supposedly for traditional beliefs.
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