Government launches action plan for persons with albinism

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has unveiled the National Action Plan (NAP) for Albinism in Uganda. Launched during the commemoration of this year’s International Albinism Day, NAP seeks to promote and protect the human rights of Persons with Albinism (PWA) anywhere in Uganda.

It focuses on raising awareness, access to health, education, work, and employment for children, women, and refugees with albinism, policies, and laws, accountability, safety, and security. Robert Kotchani, the UN Human Rights Country representative says that PWA have suffered for a long time and therefore, the launch of NAP is a step towards protecting them.

He notes that the implementation of the Action Plan will require the support of all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

Olive Namutebi, the chairperson NAP task force says that although the Action Plan has been launched, there is a need for the government to integrate sunscreen as an essential medical commodity supplied to health facilities countrywide.

In her response, Hellen Grace Asamo, the Minister of State for Disability Affairs, said that her office will make a follow-up with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the sunscreen is included on the drug list.

The minister also called on the PWA to embrace government programs such as the Parish Development Model and special grants for Persons with Disabilities so that they improve their livelihood.

However, 29-year-old Barbara Anyinge, says aside from the sunscreen being expensive and very few, there is a huge challenge with government programs because they require the formation of groups, and yet PWAs are sparsely populated.

Sam Atul, the mayor of Lira City Council tasked the government to consider giving more funding to the community development department, which he says takes care of a large group of PWA.

Persons with Albinism (PWA) in Uganda are a vulnerable group that faces multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination just because of who they are. They have been subjected to discrimination, banishment, cutting of body parts and amputation of limbs, torture, and murder due to myths and superstition, and unfounded beliefs.

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