PWA has refuted claims by Jake Epelle, the founder of the Albino Foundation, that the Federal Government (FG) intervened on skin cancer treatment for its members at the National Hospital Abuja, under the auspices of Disability Inclusion Centre (DIC) and The Albino Network Association in Nigeria (TANA) (NHA).
Muyiwa Abegunde, Media Lead for DIC, denounced a recent publication by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) made by Epelle claiming that 5,500 Albinism Skin Cancer Patients were treated by NHA for more than 30 million naira during a Press Briefing on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.
“On Sunday, March 13th, 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Albino Foundation, Mr Jake Epelle, claimed his foundation has referred 5,500 patients with Albinism, Skin Cancer to the NHA for treatment,” he said.
“If this is true, we are calling him within seven days to provide accurate data, including the identities of all albinos reported to NHA between 2017 and 2022, and to publicize their names regardless of state.”
He demanded that the FG channel all funds intended for individuals with disabilities to the ‘National Commission for Persons with Disabilities,’ rather than distributing general funding or grants to NGOs like the Albino Foundation.
Nnnene Bassey, the President of Advocacy for Persons with Albinism, who is also the cluster head for Persons with Albinism in JONAPWD’s Akwa Ibom Chapter, described the claim as self-serving, while urging the general public to enable people with disabilities to participate fully and effectively in political and public life on an equal footing.
In her words, “That is not the truth, he is looking for persons with Albinism for his own selfish and self-centred interest. According to the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, an international human rights treaty of the United Nations, article 29 says that persons with disabilities should effectively and fully participate in political and public life on equal basis with others, directly or through freely, chosen Representatives. They have the right to vote and be elected.”
Onyemaechi Constance, Leader of Person’s with Albinism, Abuja demanded the availability of accurate statistics for the public while the health care for skin cancer should cut across the country with equity.
“Data should be made available to the public, names while we also appoint independent bodies to confirm it. Also, the skin cancer treatment shouldn’t be political, it should cut across all Health cares for albinos.” She said
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