People from government offices, disability groups, and the albinism community are asking for quick action to make sure Nigeria’s climate and health policies include people with disabilities—especially those with albinism.
This appeal was made during a one-day meeting held in Abuja. The meeting was organised by the Albinism Association of Nigeria and supported by the Disability Rights Fund.
At the event, participants talked about how people with albinism are more at risk from climate change. They mentioned dangers like extreme heat and poor access to safe environments, which make health problems worse.
After the meeting, a formal statement was released. Joseph Akuse, the programme manager of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, signed the document. It called on the Ministry of Environment to create early warning systems and heat protection plans that are easy for people with disabilities to use.
They also asked the government to give out sun-protective tools and build stronger, climate-safe facilities, especially in rural and poor areas.
For health care, the group urged the Ministry of Health to quickly carry out the National Policy on Albinism and to offer free or cheaper skin and eye care services.
They also told the National Health Insurance Authority to include special health services for people with albinism in their plans.
Stakeholders said mobile health services should reach more remote and poor communities.
They also talked about improving education. They want school lessons to include topics about albinism and schools to have learning tools that help students with disabilities.
They said schools need to be more inclusive and teachers should get training to understand the needs of students with disabilities.
The statement asked different ministries—like Health, Education, and Environment—to work together to create inclusive plans and programs.
They asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make sure people with albinism can take part fully in elections, and told the National Orientation Agency to educate the public about the challenges people with albinism face.
The meeting also stressed that people with albinism—especially women and girls—should be included in planning and decision-making groups.
They recommended that groups like the Albinism Association of Nigeria and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities be officially involved in government discussions.
They said it’s important to collect better data that includes details on disability, gender, age, and location.
They promised to keep track of climate and health programs to make sure these programs meet the real needs of people with albinism and other people with disabilities.
Finally, they asked the government and its partners to take real steps to put the meeting’s resolutions into action to help and protect people with albinism in Nigeria.
The communiqué was supported by many government offices, including the Federal Ministries of Health, Environment, and Education, as well as INEC, the National Orientation Agency, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and major disability organisations.
