INTERNATIONAL ALBINISM AWARENESS DAY 2022: Lagos 'll continue to ensure that people living with disability have a sense of belonging - GM, LASODA

 

As the world marks 2022 International Albinism Awareness day, Lagos State Government has assured that people living with disability would always have a sense of belonging and even have a say to contribute their own quota to the growth and development of Lagos State in particular and the whole nation in general. 

This was contained in the welcome address delivered by the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mr Dare Dairo, at the special programme to mark this year's International Albinism Day organised by Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs(LASODA) in collaboration with Lagos Albinism Awareness Society.

The theme for this year's event was “United in making our voice heard." 

which took place at Adeyemi Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Dairo maintained that the theme for the International Albinism Awareness Day this year was chosen in an effort to amplify the voices, and highlight the work being done, of and for, the people with albinism. 

He affirmed that creating awareness on the management of albinism is an ongoing exercise, just as he assured that Lagos State Government would accord all people living with disabilities, including the albinos, sense of belonging, so that if there is any challenge, they will find solution. 

"This is a government of inclusion, where everyone matters in the scheme of things. l can assure you that Lagos State would ensure that people with disabilities have sense of belonging and contribute meaningfully to the day to day governance in terns of their various contribution and if there are challenges, we solve and find solution to it without discrimination", Dairo said.

He also said the theme will also support a sense of unity in the community and highlight the celebration of different versions of lives of people with albinism 

Also in her presentation at the event, Professor Olayinka Olasode, a professor of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, who also doubles as the founder, Co-ordinator, Albinism Care and Research Initiative, OAUTHC, maintained that the International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD), annually observed on June 13, represents the importance and celebration of human rights of people with albinism, adding that 

albinism is a non-contagious, genetically inherited ailment that results in the lack of melanin in the skin, eyes, and hair. 

She said due to this, people with albinism are prone to many issues both social and biological, just as she added that people subject to this drastic difference in pigmentation are prone to skin cancer due to the lack of melanin in the eyes, many people often have a permanent visual impairment. 

She, however, advised that all and sundry should say no to cancer, added that " her NGO do not seek to distrupt  what government and other agencies are trying to do for the albinos but to lend more support and collaborate to ensure albino is given a sense of belonging in tbe society and not discriminated", she said. 

Contributing also in her presentation, Dr. Folakemi Cole, Dermatology Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, said due to lack of understanding of this condition, people with albinism have to suffer a great deal socially and face not one but multiple forms of discrimination, including that on the grounds of disability.

She spoke extensively on how to live positively with Albinos and how to treat skin cancer when in early stage, added that the treatment of late stage cancer can be deadly. 

"Let us afford early treatment of skin cancer because the late stage treatment can be deadly. We should start from the home and early childhood by wearing sun protective clothing and avoid working and walking in the sun", Cole said. 

The establishment of the International Albinism Awareness Day was laid down by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2014. It was decided that June 13 will be observed as the IAAD and the first observance was done in 2015.

International Albinism Awareness Day: Significance

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted this resolution and put its firm foot down for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against people with albinism. This day is mandated to remind people of the perils of the past and the path to the future in the case of albinism and the people living with it.