The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been urged to provide conducive environment for skin cancer treatment for people with albinism (PWA).
Speaking here, an expert from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Dr Alfred Naburi the procedure which is coordinated by Standing Voice organization is aimed at checking up and provide skin cancer treatments to people with albinism in Mwanza City and Ukerewe District.
Dr Naburi who also doubles as Public Health Specialist, said people with albinism in the country face a lot of challenges , but they suffer most once confronted with skin cancer.
“So far we have attended 1500 people with albinism from Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Manyara regions and those from nearest regions. We treated them after receiving support from various donors. People with albinism face a lot of challenges especially those suffering from skin cancer.
We need the government support in this area as we lack treatment equipments which are not sufficient to the whole country” he said. Dr Naburi alongside three doctors, namely Dr Jere Mshana from KCMC, Dr Isaack Baluhya from Misungwi hosipital and Dr Jackson Materu from Sengerema District hospital set up a three-day camp in Mwanza.
According to Dr Navua, keratosis is a situation brought about by the effect of sun exposure among people with albinism, where he said a three days camp is intended to identify PWA affected by that earlier skin cancer and be treated and at the same time create awareness to the community on the skin cancer diseases.
Speaking at the occasion, Mwanza Regional Chair for people with Albinism Alfred Kapore said the treatment was the first to be attended at Sekou Toure hospital. On his part, Lake Zone region Standing Voice coordinator Alex Magaga said his organization in collaboration with specialists from KCMC have decided to provide mobile clinics to skin cancers diseases to people with albinism in Lake zones regions.
Albinism is a genetically inherited condition which results in defected melanin metabolism. It is a biological pigment which darkens when exposed to the sun, with not enough melanin to create dark pigment, PWA commonly have pale skin, hair and eyes.
By NASHON KENNEDY, Tanzania Daily News
