Friday July 28, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided health screenings for 36 Somali individuals with albinism in Mogadishu on Wednesday at the Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital.
The agency also supplied essential protective items like sunscreen, sunglasses, and clothing to the participants, signifying Turkey's continued support for the often disadvantaged albino community in Somalia.
A ceremony for the screenings was attended by key figures, including Türkiye's Ambassador to Somalia, İbrahim Mete Yağlı, and TİKA's Coordinator in Somalia, İlhami Turus, highlights the agency's commitment to various development sectors in Somalia including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture. İlhami Turus reiterated TİKA's active engagement in social responsibility projects, particularly those involving vulnerable groups like people with albinism.
Albinism, a genetic condition causing little to no pigment in the skin, eyes, or hair, is often misunderstood in parts of Africa, leading to social exclusion and employment difficulties for those affected. Unfortunately, in Somalia, there are no official statistics about this community, intensifying the need to address issues such as education and poverty they face.