People with Albinism (PWA) in Nigeria say they are suffering from skin cancer, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their rescue.
The president of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Jake Epelle, made the appeal in Abuja yesterday at a press conference to mark National Albinism Awareness Day.
He said no fewer than four million of over 27 million Nigerians with some form of disability are currently struggling with one or more forms of diseases, including the “dreaded skin cancer”.
He asked Buhari to help them in reawakening his administration’s previous effort towards addressing their plight.
He said: “It is important to reiterate that special attention needs to be placed on PWAs who are suffering one or more forms of cancer as a result of their condition.”
He specifically said the government should review the previous administration’s Skin Cancer Intervention Programme for PWAs by setting up the requisite policy instruments that would make it functional and sustainable.
Epelle also urged the president to approve the inclusion of Skin Cancer Care in the scope of the current Cancer Health Fund which only takes care of breast, cervical and prostate cancer.
