Demand Records of Free Skin Cancer Treatment Beneficiaries
A cross section of persons living with albinism in Nigeria has called on anti-graft agencies in the country to summon the Chief Executive Officer of Albino Foundation Jake Epele for questioning, over the alleged misapropration of funds meant for the free treatment of persons with albinism.
Jake Epele had recently announced that Government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had through the Ministry of Finance disbursed funds to 6 Geo-Political Zones designated hospitals in Nigeria especially National Hospital Abuja” to offer free skin cancer treatment to over five thousand five hundred persons living with albinism a comment the concerned persons described as fallacy.
Speaking during a press briefing in Ado Ekiti, the concerned persons demanded a detailed records of all the beneficiaries of the gesture as claimed by Jake Epele within seven days or face legal action.
First to speak, was the President of Advocacy for Persons with Albinism, the cluster head for Persons with Albinism in JONAPWD Akwa Ibom State Nigeria, Mrs Nnene Bassey who alleged that Jake Epele had continued to siphoned all funds meant for Persons with albinism.
She said “We want to know the names of the 6 designated hospitals, with the names, gender, States and Contact address with Phone Numbers of those PWA who were referred treated. Provide a comprehensive data of the Chief Medical Officers of each of the 6 Geo-political Zone Hospitals and their contact numbers.
“According to TAF Press release on 13th March, 2022, Jake Epele said over N30 million was spent. We want to see the breakdown of the money because each PWA who went to National Hospital Abuja spent their own money.
“In TAF Websites, Jake Epele said “he conducted censors for PWA in 6 States and Abuja that PWA are 6million”. He now said again that “PWA’s are 4million still in his websites”. But on 17th March, 2022 at ABN TV Station he said that PWA are 1.3million. We need Jake to provide the accurate data of the 6million to 1.3million PWA and how did he arrive at those different figures? Again what was he given from different donors nationally and internationally for the said number of PWA in Nigeria?
According to Jake Epele, “Treatment for the referrals cost more than N30million”. The Parents of the dead PWA, PWA who are alive and being ravaged by Skin cancer, Healthy & Well Meaning PWA want to know the breakdown of the N30million. Owing to the fact PWA who went to Abuja spent their own money for their treatments except paying for surgery.
She added, we’re not attacking Jake Epele or discrediting TAF rather we seek clarification saying ever since he became the AAN President, no substantial progress is made.
“Finally, we comprehend the fallacies meted from TAF CEO and his manipulated Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN). Thus, we’re not attacking Jake Epele or discrediting TAF rather we seek clarification.
Again, despite violation of the United Nation Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) article 4.3, 6.1, 15 and 16 he also violated his TAF constitution in No.9 that says “As much as practicable, TAF shall endeavor to improve the Welfare of Albinos”. Ever since he became the AAN President, no substantial progress is made rather its TAF carrying out programmes every month, leading AAN just as Jake Epele said at the zoom meeting on September last year 2021 before he became the AAN President.
With due respect, we seek clarification on these issues that we raised.
Also in his opening remark, the
Media Communications Lead, the Albino Network Associations of Nigeria (TANA) Muyiwa Abegunde said thousands of people with albinism were confronted with great challenges that have impeded their growth in the society urging Federal Government to come to their aid.
He said as individuals and as a demographic group across the states including FCT, Albinism were classified amongst the vulnerable groups of the society, which includes people living with various kinds of physical disabilities. Such as skin cancer low vision etc
According to Abegunde, the prevalence rate of skin cancer in Nigeria is ranked amongst the highest in the world, By implication people with albinism (PWA) in Nigeria represent one of the micro largest vulnerable groups in the country due to their skin cancer and low vision.
He said “The need for special attention to be given to the socio-economic wellbeing of all persons with albinism and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Specific areas of their lives require prime focus and special intervention.
“Identified areas requiring both governmental and societal intervention include healthcare, advocacy and social awareness education, social inclusion, academic education, economic empowerment, and socio-political protection from various forms of societal abuse and discrimination.
“The poverty and lack of education suffered by albinism does not stem from any mental or physical disability, but mostly as a result of discrimination, exploitation, social exclusion and stigma, and in some cases the human rights abuse they suffer as a result of their skin complexion
“However, we are calling the State and the Federal Government and relevant authority to support our demand from the Albino foundation who claimed that 5500 PWAs has been referred to National Hospital for the treatment along mentioned with six Geopolitical zones Hospitals in the country.
“Thus, we are hereby requesting Jake EPELLE to produce and publish the list said records according to their names, sex, and their various state of location without delay for adequate proper facts to the general public.
“Gone are the days unreliable organizations would be exploiting Nigeria Albinism Community for their personal aggrandizement, therefore The Albino foundation (TAF) Operate under the single leadership of Jake Epelle as NGOs should do the needful by publishing the 5500 PWAs names out without further delay rather than his organization should be making a fallacy statement on Albinism Healthcare, economic empowerment, educational back to school program related Issues in the country.
Present at the press briefing was
Prince Fagorola Ayodele, who is the chairman, Abinism Alliance and member Ondo State Board of Agency for person with Disabilities as well as leaders of Persons with Albinism in Ekiti State.
Efforts made to speak with Jake Epele on the matter was unsuccessful.
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