The Commissioner for Community Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr George Upenytho, has revealed that the government has started plans to review clinical guidelines to include skin cream for persons living with albinism so that they are procured and accessed.
Statistics from UBOS put 78,876 as the population of persons living with albinism above two years. Despite this sizable population, access to essential skin protection products such as sunscreen has remained a major challenge.
People with albinism have struggled to obtain these creams, with many forced to buy them from private clinics at as high as Shs30,000. Advocates say these costs are prohibitive, especially for low-income families whose members require daily use of sunscreen to prevent severe skin damage and cancer.
However, during the official opening of the review of the National Action Plan, Dr Upenytho said this change is possible and already underway.
‘We think it’s not a difficult thing. We need to just review the clinical guidelines, including the skin cream in that clinical guideline. And the procurement can be done, depending on the needs, facility by facility, through the National Medical Stores. We think that is something we can do. Because the number of people who have albinism is not very big,’ he said.
He added, ‘We are cognizant of the needs, especially the unmet needs of people who are living with albinism. The main focus for now is on the eyes and on the skin. We know that in the eyes, eventually, they develop poor vision. And in the skin, because of the nature of the skin, they are prone to cancer of the skin.’
Dr Upenytho further said, ‘There are programmes already running within the national health programme under the Cancer Institute, which look at the screening of various forms of cancer, which can also be a problem for people with albinism. Now, that needs to be extended to even lower facilities.’
The government is also distributing green glasses that can be offered at community and village levels using screening and identification of these conditions by community health workers, including VHTs. ‘If they identify, screen, and find those who can benefit from reading glasses, we offer them for free,’ he said.
Ms Olive Namutebi, Executive Director of Albinism Umbrella, said the cost of sunscreens remains a significant barrier. A mere tube of 100ml goes for about Shs30,000, yet it is required frequently by their community.
‘Shs30,000 for a 100ml sunscreen with sun protection factor 50. You know, for our skin we need 30 and above. But being costly is one thing, and being available is another. I’m giving you a quote for a pharmacy, but these pharmacies are not in all places where we need them,’ Ms Namutebi said.
She added, ‘The challenge that persists is having the sunscreens on the essential drug list. That has not yet been done, but looking at an alternative, we have been able to push through the national non-communicable diseases.’
Under the Ministry of Health, she said, ‘We still need the sunscreens, we need ophthalmologists for the eye, but we also need more awareness under the community awareness services that they give. There is a huge challenge of awareness about disability, especially for persons with albinism. A lot of ignorance is there.’