By DisabilityNewsGH
Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA), is calling on the government to make clear social protection provisions for persons with albinism, as well as support persons with albinism to intensify public awareness and education on albinism.
The association is also asking the government to consider including albinism health care products such as sun cream, glasses, and skin cancer treatment and medication in the national health insurance coverage for persons with albinism; so as to lessen the challenges that come with managing their condition.
In a press statement to mark this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day, GAPA is again calling for allocation of adequate resources for effective implementation of the inclusive education policy to ensure that all children in Ghana have equal access to quality education, irrespective of their disabilities.
Furthermore, the association is appealing to the government to ratify the Africa Disability Protocol and fast-track the amendment of the disability Act, Act 715 in synch with the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities to better protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
The statement signed by the Executive Director of GAPA, Mr. Newton Katseku also says “we call on all Ghanaians to support our Advocacy for inclusion and accept persons with albinism as part of human diversity”.
The 2022 celebration on the theme, “United in making our Voice Heard”, marked the 8th edition of the International Albinism Awareness Day.
This year’s theme was chosen to promote unity among persons with albinism and to foster collaboration, partnership and networking with persons with disabilities and civil society organizations to advocate with unified voices to ensure equality, inclusion and safety of persons with albinism.
The statement adds that “the theme is essential as it seeks to celebrate how groups of persons with albinism and individuals increase the visibility of persons with albinism in all domains of life, encourage and celebrate unity among groups of persons with albinism, amplify the voices and visibility of persons with albinism in all areas of life and highlight the work being done by albinism groups around the world”
“In addition, the theme is seeking to create opportunity for organisations of persons with albinism to continue to call on society to take the necessary steps to promote effective and equitable inclusion and participation of persons with albinism”.
The international Albinism Awareness Day which is observed on 13th June, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2014. The resolution was to encourage all UN Member States to continue their efforts to protect and preserve the rights of persons with albinism to life, dignity and security, as well as their right not to be subject to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments; and to continue their efforts to ensure equal access for persons with albinism to employment, education, justice and the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.
The aim is to end violence, abuse and attacks of persons with albinism globally.
Since 2015 the international Albinism Awareness Day is observed globally on different themes chosen to highlight the achievements of persons with albinism to show that albinism cannot prevent a person from living their best life and to encourage others to be accommodating of the needs of those with albinism.
The International Albinism Awareness Day also focuses on other health issues that are brought about by albinism such as skin cancer.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com