Persons living with albinism want sunscreen on list of essential drugs

Persons living with Albinism in the Eastern Districts of Bukedi are appealing to the health and education ministry to work on inclusive policies that offer them equal treatment.

The group says the majority of them are being discriminated against when it comes to accessing government services, especially education and health.

Persons living with albinism have continued to experience discrimination and stigma in their communities despite several interventions by the government to stop such vices.

In the Eastern Districts of Bukedi for instance, a number of persons living with albinism are struggling to access education and even food.

James (not real name), a 12-year-old boy, was allegedly sent back home early this year when he attempted to report to school. And since then, he has been home.

" We have mothers who have refused to breastfeed their children born with albinism and fathers who have chased away their wives from homes saying they were unfaithful to their marriage. So, the segregation, discrimination and family neglect too rampant," Olive Namutebi, executive director of Albinism Umbrella, said.

Beside these challenges, seeking medical attention by these less advantaged groups has equally not been easy.

These now demand that the ministry of health includes some of the essential drugs required by albinos in its budget

"As ministry reviews essential drug lists, may you put sunscreen as an essential drug for us?" Namutebi said.

"It's not cosmetics, for us it's life-changing. Please, we remind you to put it in the budget. If we can give ARVs to over a million Ugandans, how much more for a population that is even less than 100,000?"

But to the Ministry of Health officials, the situation with the albinos is due to lack of statistics on the number of albinos in the country.

The ministry is, however, hopeful that with the recent population census, the problems will be resolved.

"Statistics are a bit confusing but we pray that the recent census we have just done gives us the figures for proper planning," Joseph Okware, the director planning at Ministry of Health, said.

The ministry, however, commits to put in place all the necessary medical supplies needed by the person living with Albinism to support their condition.

" I want to promise that I will join you in making sure that nobody removes that sunscreen from the list and ministry is already aware about that. So, before we approve the next list of essential drugs, we will check with you," Okware added.