In Rwanda, persons with albinism have biggest health risk of skin cancer and there are persons with albinism who are suffering from skin cancer who cannot access to referral hospitals for skin treatment because there is no guidelines and regulations of government nor ministry of health regarding skin cancer screening of persons with albinism. People with albinism have skin which is very sensitive to sun and the sunburn is one of the serious complication of persons with albinism which also increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Due to poverty and community discrimination, persons with albinism in Rwanda are forced to withstand sun exposure as they strive to survive to support themselves.
This baseline study will inform the Ministry of Health throughout its strategic plan and its logical framework review within which the priority area was not addressing in any way the prevention of skin cancer among persons with albinism who are at high risk from this type of cancer. However, the government has the mechanism to implement SDGs and NST (National Strategies for Transformation).
Using the baseline results in our advocacy work, at the end we want to see the amendment of health strategic plan changed or modified to include skin cancer screening in the implementation of strategic priorities. We want to see the government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health having commitments and guidelines on how the government takes measures with partners to do regular skin cancer screening for persons with albinism every year countrywide and how they will treat patients who have developed skin cancer or who have symptoms to prevent it at early stage. From that, the organization will also develop strategies that engage strategic partners in empowering persons with albinism about skin cancer and way forward to preventing the cancer itself and the consequences it brings onto the community.