Albino Foundation distributes 20,000 cups of sunscreen creams to members

THE Albino Foundation (TAF), a non-governmental organization   says it has distributed 20,000 containers of sunscreen cream to its members to reduce the risk of skin cancer among albinos across the country.

Mr Jake Epelle, the Founder of the organisation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the foundation acquired 300,000 containers of the cream at a subsidized rate from the manufacturing company and distributed 20,000 of them free to the members.

“The products were distributed through our 48 offices in the country, to our members, including children, students and adults.

“We could not distribute in some states in the North Eastern because of insurgency,” he said.

Epelle said that the foundation could not distribute the product across the country due to high cost of transportation.

He said the intervention of some stakeholders in the purchase of the products had helped in alleviating the plights of persons living with albinism.

“Albinos are susceptible to various health challenges such as skin cancer, low vision impairment, freckles and moles, as well as socio economic challenges.

“Exposure to the sun increases the chance of skin cancer and other skin diseases due to our delicate skin type.

“Among other health challenges confronted by persons living with albinism, skin cancer accounts for 98 per cent,” he said.

He said that the most serious challenge to the albinism community was the widespread discrimination and stigmatization meted out to albinos.