Story
Napiers the Herbalists has joined Standing Voice in the fight against skin cancer in Tanzania. Together we are raising vital funds to extend Standing Voice's network of life-saving skin cancer prevention and treatment clinics across the whole
of Tanzania to ensure no one living with albinism dies of skin cancer unnecessarily.
People with albinism are extremely vulnerable to sun exposure related skin cancer – shockingly, in Tanzania where the UV index is very high 98% of the albino population die from skin cancer before the age of 35. The albino population of Tanzania, estimated to number 25,000, currently faces severe social prejudice, discrimination and socio- economic exclusion. As a result this community is marginalized from essential life-saving health services.
In response Standing Voice created a pioneering health initiative – Standing Voice Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment Programme. This growing network of clinics currently takes place in 22 locations across Tanzania, screening the skin of 2,476 people with albinism every four months. The Programme aims to be operational in every region of Tanzania by 2018.
To date Standing Voice has
- Established 22 clinics across Tanzania.
- Screened 2,476 patients and continue to do so every four months.
- Ensured 2,476 patients receive locally produced sunscreen every four months and education in how best to apply it.
- Given preventative cryotherapy treatment to 678 patients to remove pre-cancerous lesions.
- Funded 86 life-saving operations to remove cancerous tumours.
- Delivered skin cancer peer education workshops at every clinic session on the dangers of skin cancer and best preventative measures.
After the first year of The Programme new cases of skin cancer detected at Standing Voice's clinics decreased by 82.3%.
Every Clinic Counts
- Our aim is for the network of clinics to reach every person living with albinism no matter how remote and isolated they may be.
- To do this we will open fifteen more clinics over the next four years.
- It costs £4,286 to equip and run one new clinic for a year.
Every clinic really does count in the fight against skin cancer in Tanzania and with your help we will ensure that no person living with albinism dies of skin cancer unnecessarily. Please donate to Every Clinic Counts and be part of this life-saving campaign.