Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairperson, Ernest Kimaya
An Independence Day eve fundraising dinner organised by Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) to raise funds for cancer treatment of People with Albinism (PWA) in the country collected only 32m/- of the sought 750m/-.
Speaking at the fundraiser on Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairperson, Ernest Kimaya reminded attendants of the vulnerability People with Albinism face when it comes to skin cancer.
He said in Tanzania, over 80 per cent of PWAs die before reaching their teenage years due to the lack of proper medical care and 75 per cent of these deaths are related to skin cancer.
He also highlighted the lack of education and awareness of the condition of PWAs among communities in the country, a fact that he said has led to isolation and discrimination of PWAs.
He decried the situation citing that the opposite should have been the norm, more care and increased opportunities for all vulnerable groups.
“The lack of awareness and education has led to a widespread public misconception of PWAs, so they don’t see as people and they discriminate us,” he lamented.
Kamaya took the time to thank all who participated in the event, however he reminded stakeholders that the fundraisers did not even reach a tenth of the sought amount which was 750m/- versus the 32m/- that was collected in cash and pledges.
Reading a statement on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete at the event, Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadiq said the government is committed to support people with albinism.
“I am aware of the skin cancer problem that people with albinism face, we are doing everything we can to ensure that we reduce it,” the President pledged.
“We are working to ensure that special skin oils are available throughout the country especially in rural areas,” he said.
On behalf of the President, the RC went on to emphasise that the government is committed to providing PWAs with basic necessary requirements such as medical care, a basic necessity to ensure that PWAs, like other citizens, lead decent lives.
The RC summed with a call to the public and other stakeholders to chip in and donate to help curb the plight of PWAs.
Nonetheless, TAS Public Relation Officer, Josephat Torner did not wholly place the blame on the government for the meager collections made at the event, on the contrary, he expressed gratitude for support shown by government so far but admitted more needs to be done.
He also conceded that the event’s planning was not comprehensive and hence the low turn up and poor collection.
“We organised the event without asking other health organisations to be with us…that’s why people did not show up in big number,” he said noting that such deficiencies are among the supports that PWAs as individuals and as organisations are in need of.
‘Lack of awareness of the plight PWAs face is the real problem, if people were more awere we would receive more support,” Torner said.
“The public is surprised when they hear about killings of albinos but they are not aware of ever present problems like threat of skin cancer which is a silent killer and claims so many lives of PWAs every day,” he said.
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