The leading advocacy group for women and children with disabilities in Ghana, Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWACGhana), is demanding urgent government action to support women and children with albinism and women with hearing disabilities.
A Crisis of Skin Cancer:
VOWACGhana is calling for increased availability and affordability of sun protection creams for individuals with albinism, citing a shortage and high cost that contribute to rising skin cancer rates.
In an interview with DisabilityNewsGH.com, VOWACGhana’s Acting Executive Director, Juliana Afia Mahmood, highlighted the issue on the sidelines of a recent breast cancer awareness programme.
“We are deeply concerned about the lack of access to affordable sun protection creams,” Mahmood said. “This shortage is leading to an alarming increase in skin cancer cases among women and children with albinism.”
Skin cancer remains a leading cause of death among persons with albinism in Africa, dramatically reducing their life expectancy. Nine out of ten individuals with albinism in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority reside, do not live past the age of 40 due to the high risk of skin cancer. This is largely because many lack access to education, healthcare, and essential sun protection measures.
In sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism face not only health challenges but also severe discrimination, persecution, and violence fueled by harmful superstitions. These factors significantly contribute to their reduced life expectancy.
For years, organisations such as the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA) and Engage Now Africa (ENA) have advocated for government action on these issues.
Deaf Women Face Healthcare Barriers:
Madam Afia Mahmood also highlighted the challenges faced by women with hearing disabilities in accessing healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
“The absence of sign language interpreters at health facilities poses a significant barrier to their care,” she said. “This is a critical need that the government, through the Ghana Health Service, should address immediately.”
VOWACGhana joins GAPA and ENA in calling for a more inclusive and supportive environment for both individuals with albinism and women with hearing disabilities in Ghana. The organisation believes that these measures are vital to ensuring equal access to healthcare and a better quality of life for all Ghanaians, regardless of their disability.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com