Damilola Ibigbami, a 34-year-old woman with albinism from Osun State, urgently needs two million naira (NGN2,000,000) for life-saving surgery after surviving 12 previous operations.
After battling skin cancer since 2016, Ms. Ibigbami now faces a critical situation. She has survived 12 surgeries, including nine nose reconstructions and three skull operations, and she continues to fight.
The mesh placed in her skull during a 2022 surgery has opened up and requires immediate replacement, but she has been unable to raise the needed funds since April 2024.
“I have survived two major surgeries and nine nose reconstructions. I believe I can survive this. I hope the help I need doesn’t arrive too late,” Ms. Ibigbami told BONews Service.
Her journey has been particularly challenging. What started as a seemingly harmless pimple on her nose turned out to be skin cancer, leading to multiple surgeries including nine nose reconstructions and three skull operations.
Previous supporters who helped fund her earlier treatments are now financially exhausted, leaving her without options for this crucial surgery.
“It is emotionally draining that I have not been able to raise the money needed for this surgery,” she said.
Those willing to support Ms. Ibigbami’s treatment can donate to:
Account number: 3189943762
Account name: Ibigbami Damilola Margret
Bank name: First Bank
Skin cancer is becoming an increasingly significant health concern, especially among persons with albinism (PWAs). Nigeria’s tropical climate, with its intense sunlight, places PWAs at heightened risk of this type of cancer.
Albinism, a genetic condition characterised by a lack of melanin, results in minimal protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, making these individuals more susceptible to developing skin cancer.
Research has shown that PWAs account for 67 per cent of patients managed for primary skin cancers, with 61 per cent of these patients being under 40 years old.
This appeal comes amid rising cases of skin cancer among persons with albinism (PWA) in Nigeria with reports indicating that three to five persons with albinism die of skin cancer every six months, and only two per cent survive to reach the age of 40.