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13 June is International Albinism Awareness Day
Inadequate healthcare assistance has been highlighted as one of the major challenges faced by people with albinism.
This emerged during the Bona Ubuntu Humanity programme, which celebrated international albinism awareness in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. On Friday, it was International Albinism Awareness Day.
Learners from five schools participated in an awareness walk led by their teachers and programme coordinators. The aim was to emphasise the importance of inclusivity for people with albinism.
“We do have screening initiatives and education sessions where we try to teach community members, particularly those working with young children; how to recognise that a child might have a vision problem because we could fix it before it leads to something permanent,” says Programme coordinator Robyn Fick.
Today is International Albinism Awareness Day!
People with #albinism continue to be subjected to discrimination & stigmatization. We must amplify the voices of persons with albinism & ensure they have access to quality #health services across #Africa #AlbinismDay pic.twitter.com/igwq8ogQVM
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) June 13, 2023
Fick says for those that have something that is not able to be corrected, they do have preschool programme workshops and support groups to look at the child in totality and say what the child needs.
“We can identify what the support system needs and how we can help,” she adds.
