The Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA) joins the global community today, June 13th, in commemorating International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) under the theme: “Demanding Our Rights: Protect Our Skin, Preserve Our Lives.”
This year’s theme serves as a powerful call to action, emphasising the right of persons with albinism to live with dignity, safety, and full inclusion in society.
In Ghana and across Africa, individuals with albinism continue to encounter significant challenges, including discrimination, limited access to sun care products and healthcare, restricted educational and employment opportunities, and harmful cultural beliefs.
GAPA is urging government institutions, civil society organisations, healthcare providers, the media, and the general public to collaborate in order to:
• Take the necessary measures to effectively implement the World Health Assembly Resolution on Skin Diseases, recognising “skin diseases as a global public health priority.”
• Ensure access to affordable sun protection and skin care.
• Promote inclusive policies in education, employment, and healthcare.
• Condemn stigma and harmful myths surrounding albinism.
• Uphold the human rights of all persons with albinism.
• Ensure that CHRAJ (Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice) urgently validates and releases the national survey on cultural banishment of persons with albinism in the country.
• Ensure that the National House of Chiefs opens a national conversation on harmful cultural practices in communities and chief palaces/institutions against persons with albinism.
“Our skin may be vulnerable, but our voices are strong,” stated Kabu Richard Narteh Kabu, Programmes and Research Officer at GAPA. “We will continue to speak up until every person with albinism is protected, empowered, and respected.”
GAPA calls on the albinism community and their families to remain resolute, demand their rights in their daily lives, continue to protect their lives, and live meaningful lives.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
