Parents with Children Living with Albinism in Kajiado County have been asked to stop hiding them and instead register with the National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) to benefit from free protective gear provided by the government.
The Head of the Albinism Unit at NCPWD, Alex Munyere, noted that many persons with albinism do not benefit from free protective devices such as eyeglasses, protective clothing, sunscreen, and hats, as they are not registered with the Council.
He noted that some parents were still hiding their children at home due to deep-rooted societal stigma and discrimination and for fear of exposing them to the sun, making them miss out on the support being offered by the government.
The Officer noted that the protective gear given by the government is very expensive to purchase for most families; thus, those who do not benefit are easily exposed to the sun, putting them at a higher risk of getting skin cancer. "I want to urge all parents and guardians to stop hiding their children with albinism but instead register them with NCPWD for them to be given free protective devices, which will enable them to live life to the fullest," said Munyere.
