Persons with albinism continue facing stigmatisation and exclusion to socio-economic platforms due to societal barriers Photo: Proud Albinism
By Simon Manda
Pretoria, South Africa: The National Albinism Task Force (NATF) is pleased to announce that its Tshwane Chapter will hold an albinism awareness event on June 13, 2024, in Pretoria, in honour of the tenth anniversary of International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD).
In December 2014, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution designating June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day. The theme for this year is “10 years of IAAD – A decade of Collective progress,” which honours the noteworthy advancements made in advancing the rights of individuals with albinism and increasing public awareness of the condition.
The event will take place at Sammy Marks Square in Pretoria from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will feature speakers from various government departments, agencies, civil society organisations, and the private sector. People with albinism from across Gauteng are expected to attend the celebration.
People with albinism often struggle with limited vision and skin cancer, which is one of their main problems. Dermatologists and optometrists will be on hand to address these worries by screening participants with albinism for skin cancer and doing eye exams.
A representative for the NATF Tshwane region., Anneline Mathiba, stated, “We are thrilled to host this event and bring together people with albinism, their families, and supporters to celebrate the progress made over the past ten years.” “By raising awareness and educating the public, we can continue to break down barriers and ensure that people with albinism have equal opportunities and access to resources.”
As the nation unites to recognise the significance of International Albinism Awareness Day and the continued efforts to promote the rights and well-being of people with albinism, similar events are anticipated to be organised in other provinces around the nation.
You can reach Ms. Nontsikelelo Loteni at 083 555 5530 or Eva Sebotsane at 083 362 6996 for further information on the event.
