Despite their significant contributions to society, Persons with Albinism (PWAs) continue to suffer from endemic poverty, financial exclusion, and limited employment opportunities, which exacerbate their vulnerability to skin cancer, social stigmatization, and low self-esteem.
To break this cycle of suffering, experts are calling on African leaders to implement policies and programs that promote inclusive education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for PWAs, and to tackle the systemic barriers that have long marginalized this vulnerable group.
At the Disability Rights Webinar Series held on February 26, 2025, the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced by PWA in Nigeria and Africa.
Key recommendations from the discussions emphasized the need for increased media advocacy to counter harmful stereotypes, better inclusion of PWA in disability rights movements, and stronger policies to combat poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to education.
“The media needs to help counter several erroneous narratives like albinism is not a disability or impairment that limits function by spotlighting the challenges faced by people with albinism so stakeholders can jointly acknowledge this as well as find a solution.
“Persons with Albinism and their groups suffer marginalisation. This marginalization is obvious within the disability community, clusters which do not allow required support and attention. Organisation of Persons with disabilities (OPDs), governments and development organizations need to appreciate this and work towards accepting PWA in their communities,” they added.
Stakeholders stressed the importance of locally produced sunscreen, climate change mitigation efforts, and inclusive health insurance that covers skin cancer treatment.
They also stated that employment access is challenging for persons with albinism because it exposes them to harsh weather conditions, providing conducive working environment and working remotely are ways to support employees with albinism.
With at least two people with albinism reportedly dying every month due to skin cancer, the webinar underscored the urgency of interventions that ensure early screenings, financial inclusion, and workplace accommodations.
“Collaboration with health institutions that can help with PWA healthcare management must be forged and the already formed partners must be functional: National Dermatological Centres, National Institution for cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) where regular skin screening and eye test will be conducted for early detection.
“People with albinism need accommodation and assistive devices to enhance learning and prevent educational exclusion. These might include extra time, captioning, loud speakers, sitting close to the board. This requires that teachers are trained to understand challenges of learners with albinism,” the experts also demanded.
They also called for more responsible portrayals of albinism in Nollywood and other media platforms to challenge longstanding stigmas.
The Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa pledged to continue driving these conversations and holding policymakers accountable for meaningful change.