Foundation canvases free education for persons with disability
NAN-HG-6
Education
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, June 14, 2017 (NAN) The Albino Foundation (TAF) has called on the Federal Government to make education free and compulsory at all levels for persons living with albinism and other disabilities.
Mr Jake Epelle, the President of the foundation, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline event of the 2017 International Albinism awareness day in Abuja.
According to him, persons with albinism are faced with major challenges of vision impairment and economic challenges which have left them uneducated and poor.
This, he said, has left them with no opportunity to earn a living to send their children to school.
He identified other challenges as social exclusion, discrimination, stigmatism, stereotype and myths, which still exist in homes, work places, between spouses and siblings.
Epelle also identified skin cancer as a major health challenge ravaging persons with albinism in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria is the only country offering free skin cancer treatment for albinos.
He said the free treatment was domiciled at the National Hospital Abuja, saying the treatment will soon be decentralised to the six geo-political zones across the country.
Epelle said in addressing the plight of persons with albinism, the United Nations adopted the International Albinism awareness day as Resolution 13, with all 28 member states voting in favour of the resolution.
He said the day was designed specifically to create awareness and draw attention about the plight of Albinism in Nigeria to member nations.
He said a representative of Nigeria at the UN would be responsible in documenting all findings concerning albinism such as the challenges and prospects, and relay same to the UN System.
According to him, the findings will eventually lead to mainstreaming albinism course into the UN system, which will become a huge plus to our communities, through recognition and opportunity for funding.
Epelle further encouraged persons with albinism to live out their potentials, while the society show love and give them a chance to exist. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola