Mr Jake
Epelle, President of the foundation, said this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ekpelle
quoted various research reports and publications to buttress his claim.
According
to him, people living with Albinism are estimated to be 2 million in Nigeria
with children constituting about 40 percent of the figure.
He said
children with albinism were also among the most vulnerable in Nigeria, noting
that most albinos are susceptible to skin cancer due to the exposure of their
delicate skin type to the sun.
The
president of the foundation said the absence of social welfare services in
Nigeria had made livelihood difficult for children with special needs such as
people with albinism.
``There
is no official frame work to provide social welfare services, education and
health support for the children.
``Many
of them are not in school, not because of their mental disability but because
of visual impairment, discrimination and social exclusion due to their skin
colour.
``Parents
however are solely responsible for their children’s care and support,’’ Ekpelle
said.
He said
due to lack of social welfare policy in the country, school teachers have been
left to decide on the nature and quality of care to provide for children with
albinism. Epelle said the foundation had launched TAF Back to School Education
Grant Project focused on supporting indigent children living with albinism in
primary and secondary schools across the country.
``In the
month of March, we partnered with Total E and P Nigeria staff multipurpose
cooperative to enrol 100 indigent Albino children in primary and secondary
schools across the country.
``This
project is aimed at ensuring school dropout return to school, children who had
never been in school are enrolled, and supporting those already in school,’’ he
said.
Epelle
said the success of the education initiative was making history in its support
for albinos in achieving their educational pursuit.
He
called on the Federal Government to adopt a social welfare policy that would
cater for the needs of indigent children living with albinism in the country.
``We
want to see government intervention programmes, through specific policy
direction and action plan aimed at alleviating the sufferings, neglect,
stigmatisation and discrimination faced by persons with albinism,’’ Epelle
said.
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