On 13thJune, every year is international Albinism awareness day in Rwanda. The celebration took place at Hilltop and was organized by OIPPA “TheOrganization for Integration and Promotion of Persons with Albinism. The celebration was launched by the march of the albinos from National Amahoro Stadium to Hilltop Hotel. The guest of honor was Honourable Rusiha Gastone who saluted the effort of OIPPA for fighting for the rights of albinos like the extension of the activities in Rutsiro and Kayonza districts and the advocacy done in Musanze District schools where the teachers were sensitised on how to take care of children with albinism. The Honourable Rusiha talked also on the solution of availing their appropriate products, he advised them to work with KIPHARMA to request SEBAMED to avail products marked as made especially for Persons with albinism because this will facilitate in the advocacy of the exemption for taxes and will decrease the cost. Mrs Christine Mukazayire who represented NCPD said the celebration of International Albinism awareness Day is a good opportunity to raise awareness on the challenges that they face, as a specific group with special needs. She pledged that NCPD will continue to support all persons with Disabilities including albinos.
The albinos meet with the challenges.
Mr AKIMANIDUHAYE Dieudonné, the chairman of OIPPA said that the albinos meet with many challenges as a biological and social challenges. He said the biological problems including congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Its association with a number of vision defects and the lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers, according to the social challenges are like stigma and discrimination because Albinos people are not well receive in society and it is difficult to get married with other person with albinism. Mr AKIMANIDUHAYE Dieudonné took this opportunity to advocate for the following challenges and request the different institutions to avail the solutions like: the availability of appropriate cream/ products for their skin, vaccination of skin cancer; allow children with albinism to sit in the positions closer to the blackboard, the mind change of society concerning the capacity and ability of Albinos.