People with albinism: Our health at risk

By David Kisanga

  'Bureaucracy in hospitals killing many of us'

People with albinism march in Dar es Salaam yesterday to mark ninth anniversary of Tanzania Albinism Day. (Photo: Omar Fungo)

People with albinism (PWA) have asked the government to work on reduction of bureaucracy in public hospitals which they say contributes to 78 per cent of PWAs not getting timely treatment and another 80 percent dying in their homes.


Members of the PWA made the appeal to Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr Seif Rashid, during the Albino Day celebrations held in Dar es Salaam this weekend.

Speaking at the event, a member from the Tanzania Albinism Society (TPS) Hussein Kibindu, said due to the malpractice, most PWA have lost faith in the country’s health system.

Offering an example, Kibindu said when a person with albinism is found to have cancer, health practitioners take ‘too much time’ before referring them to district hospitals and cancer facilities.

“The complicated bureaucratic system in health centers when it comes to referring PWA for further treatment is a major factor contributing to late reportage for treatment and many PWA deaths,” he lamented.

According to Kibindu, Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) statistics show that 78 percent of PWA report for treatment only when the disease (cancer) is advanced and cannot be cured even if treated and this he said, is caused by the delay in referring them to the hospitals.

Further, he said the same statics hold that 80 per cent of PWAs die at home without having received treatment from health specialists.

Another challenge PWA face are the brutal killings of 72 PWAs between 2006 and 2013, said Kibindu, lamenting that PWAs are living in fear and cannot engage in productive socio-economic activities.

IN response, the Health and Social Welfare Minister, Dr Seif Rashid said the ministry is collaborating with the Regional Administration and Local Government to ensure that all government hospitals provide PWA’s with free health services in a timely manner.

“It is true that PWA do not get services related to treatment of skin cancer on time,” the minister conceded.

“The government is doing all it can to ensure the situation is addressed,” he reassured stakeholders noting that among other things sun screen and other related skin care lotions will be made more readily available.

Dr Rashid maintained that despite all these challenges, there is improvement in health care provision for persons with albinism and more is being done to ensure timely delivery of the same but was keen to note the need for increased investment in PWA treatment schemes. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN