The Chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Dr David Anyaele, has called for monthly cancer screening and improved access to specialist healthcare for persons with albinism in the state.
Anyaele also pledged the commission’s support for the newly established Cancer Trust Fund for persons with albinism, subject to government approval.

He spoke in Umuahia during the launch of the fund, organised as part of activities marking International Albinism Awareness Day in Abia.
The commission chairman said it would also seek technical assistance from international organisations to strengthen the initiative and expand its reach.

“We are going to identify international agencies that can support you technically in what you are doing so that this cancer trust fund will increase and expand, such that the real people will get the benefits that it is meant for,” he said.
Anyaele, however, stressed that the sustainability of the fund would depend on proper management, transparency and accountability.

He urged the Abia State chapter of the Albinism Association of Nigeria to establish clear policies and procedures for administering the fund.
He also recommended that the trust fund operate a separate bank account from that of the association, with credible individuals outside the association involved in its oversight.

According to him, regular reports should also indicate beneficiaries who have received assistance, those awaiting support and areas requiring further intervention.
Anyaele said the commission’s intervention was driven by the need to prevent further deaths from cancer-related complications among persons with albinism.

He recalled the case of a woman with albinism who travelled outside Abia State in search of medical treatment before she died, saying the experience underscored the importance of early detection and access to specialist care within the state.
“If we had a first-hand medical review in Abia State, maybe she wouldn’t have died. And that is why we have vowed that nobody must die again as a result of albinism-related cancer in Abia State,” he said.

To achieve this, Anyaele called for collaboration with the state Ministry of Health to establish monthly cancer screening for persons with albinism and ensure access to dermatologists for specialised care.
He noted that some persons with albinism had been forced to seek specialist treatment outside the state, saying improved healthcare services within Abia would help reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Hon. Enyinnaya Nwosu, said the trust fund was established to provide a sustainable mechanism for supporting persons with albinism, particularly those facing cancer-related health challenges.
Nwosu also called for responsible management of the fund to ensure its sustainability and availability to persons with albinism whenever they require assistance.