Standing Voice executive director Boniface Massah has said fifteen people with albinism have died from skin cancer in the past two years, a situation he described as worrying. 

He said that people with albinism are dying of the disease despite efforts in improving the availability of sunscreen for the prevention of skin cancer.

Massah stressed the need for scaling up of early detection and treatment services for skin cancer patients in the country.

“People with albinism should be prioritized in skin cancer surgical operations in the hospitals to improve survival,” Massah said.

He disclosed this during a media training which was organized in partnership with Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) and Beyond Skincare through a European Union-funded Ufulu Wanga Project which aims at promoting the rights of people with albinism.

YONECO Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager Daniel Chikatentha said the media is an essential tool in the promotion of the rights of persons with albinism.

“Journalists have a critical role in reporting human rights abuses and discrimination against people with albinism in the country,” Chikatentha said.

The training brought together more than 30 journalists from various media houses.