Albinism: Lack Of Medical Checks May Lead To Cancer -Experts

As the world celebrates World Albinism Day last, Monday, experts have warned that lack of medical help and checks may make patients prone to cancer.
According to the health warning those between 30-40 years are prone to develop skin cancer if they fail to follow up regular health checks and protection.
The report said, Studies “ that people with albinism are likely to get affected by many biological, mental and social issues. These people are prone to undergo drastic differences in skin pigmentation. Moreover, a lot of people with albinism often have permanent visual impairment due to a lack of melanin in their eyes.
“ majority of individuals with albinism develop skin cancer between the ages of 30 and 40. But skin cancer is preventable among albinism patients with regular health checks, sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing. However, people of low-income countries might have to suffer due to a lack of facilities”, it added.
The theme for this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day is “United in making our voices heard.”
The United Nations chose the theme with an aim to include the voices of persons with albinism since it is essential to ensure equality #Inclusion4equality, to celebrate the people suffering from albinism, and increase the visibility of persons with albinism in all domains of life.
This day also encourages and celebrates unity among the support groups of albinism and highlights the work being done by albinism groups around the world.
In North America and Europe, one in every 20,000 people has some form of albinism, and around 1,400 people in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from the same condition.
It was on 18 December 2014 that the General Assembly adopted a resolution to celebrate 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day. This resolution came into effect in 2015.
This action was taken as a response to the call from civil society organisations advocating to consider albinism patients as a specific group that has certain needs and requires special attention. The council created the mandate of Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism on 26 March 2015

By: Kevin Nengia