Prevention and treatment for people with albinism<\/h1>\n\u2014 Ivory Coast \u2014<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/02\/Albinisme-cote-ivoire-600.jpg\" "\\"Albinisme-cote-ivoire-600\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Implementation of a treatment pathway to help people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire was initiated via the Fondation Pierre Fabre\u2019s call for projects presented at the second African Teledermatology Conference<\/a> in 2019.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe prevention and treatment programme for people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire follows the roll-out that began in 2016 of a number of similar projects in five African countries: Tanzania<\/a>, Malawi, Mali<\/a>, Burkina Faso<\/a> and Togo<\/a>. The Ivorian project entails creating a mobile unit offering medical consultations in 10 regions of the country.<\/p>\nC\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire has little epidemiological data on the disease, but the general census performed in 2014 reported some 6,200 people with albinism in the country. Albinism, a misunderstood condition that is still the subject of irrational beliefs, is not only responsible for needless and preventable skin cancers, but is also a stigmatising disease and it is vital that the prejudices around it be dismantled.<\/p>\n
A MULTIDISCIPLINARY INITIATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\nThe project revolves around four complementary areas of intervention:<\/p>\n
\n- Information and awareness-raising<\/strong> on the dangers of sun exposure and cancer risks;<\/li>\n
- Prevention<\/strong> through creation of a local sunscreen production unit and supply of protective clothing and eye protection;<\/li>\n
- Screening and treatment<\/strong> (medico-surgical and ophthalmological care by the mobile unit and referral of severe cases to Abidjan hospital);<\/li>\n
- Creation of a patient database<\/strong> to facilitate epidemiological monitoring and conducting research projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A MODEL THAT POOLS RESOURCES<\/strong><\/p>\nThe programme is funded by Secours M\u00e9dico-Social Ivoirien<\/strong>, an NGO that assists albinism sufferers, and brings together many partners: public authorities, members of the scientific and medical communities, and members of civil society.<\/p>\nThis cooperation is essential, as it brings together the broadest ensemble of skills and addresses all matters<\/strong> relating to the well-being of people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. One example is sunscreen: the formula was developed by the Laboratoires Pierre Fabre in partnership with the Foundation, is produced by the Centre de Pr\u00e9vention des Cancers Cutan\u00e9s dus \u00e0 l\u2019Albinisme<\/em> (Centre for the Prevention of Skin Cancers due to Albinism), and is then distributed to recipients by way of patient associations. There will also be work focused on improving academic support for young patients, employment guidance and resources for job-seekers and support for the elderly.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>KEY FACTS<\/span>
\n<\/strong>_____<\/p>\nPriority<\/strong>
\nDermatology<\/p>\nProgramme<\/strong>
\n2021 \u2013 2025<\/p>\nType of involvement<\/strong>
\nDistributor and operator<\/p>\nObjectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Organise treatment through the creation of a mobile consultation unit<\/li>\n
- Produce and distribute sunscreen<\/li>\n
- Train healthcare professionals, raise awareness among patients, families and communities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
THE LATEST PROGRESS<\/span>
\n<\/strong>_____<\/p>\nTraining<\/strong>
\nAround twenty healthcare professionals based outside the capital trained in how to treat albinism<\/p>\nFirst external consultations conducted<\/strong>
\nOver 1,000 people treated (dermatology, ophthalmology and cryotherapy consultations and psychosocial assessment).
\nSun care protection kits and 500 pairs of glasses distributed<\/p>\nOpening of the sunscreen production facility<\/strong><\/p>\nAppeal<\/strong>
\nWorking meeting to call for albinism to be included in health policies, in the presence of the Ministry of Health<\/p>\nRepair of equipment<\/strong>
\nRenovation of two surgical units at the dermatology department of Treichville University Hospital, to improve the way skin cancers are treated<\/p>\nLaunch of a database for patient monitoring<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Achievements<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>10<\/span>
\n<\/span>C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire regions covered by the project
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3,100+\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>patients aided by 2025
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>50 000<\/span>
\n<\/span>400-gram jars of SPF 50 sunscreen produced over five years
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>50<\/span>
\n<\/span>local health workers trained in dermatological prevention and treatment
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>1<\/span>
\n<\/span>Renovation of the operating theatre at the Treichville University Hospital
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Perspectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>A three-phase project to secure scaling<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n- Pilot phase 2020-2022<\/strong>: two years, 1,200 patients, three regions chosen per several criteria (urban areas with high patient concentrations, active patient associations and easily accessible health infrastructures);<\/li>\n
- Intermediate evaluation phase<\/strong>: assessment, adaptation and adjustments if necessary;<\/li>\n
- Extension phase 2022-2025<\/strong>: three years, 1,900 additional patients, a total of 10 regions. Project implementation based on lessons learned in the experimentation phase.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
PARTNERS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n- Ivorian Medico-Social Relief<\/li>\n
- Department of Galenic Pharmacy, Biopharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Abidjan<\/li>\n
- Ivorian Ministry of Health<\/li>\n
- Ivorian Ministry of National Education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n- Centre de Pr\u00e9vention des Cancers Cutan\u00e9s d\u2019Abidjan (Abidjan Skin Cancer Prevention Centre)<\/li>\n
- Ivory Coast Society of Dermatology and Venereology<\/li>\n
- Local associations of patients with albinism<\/li>\n
- Treichville and Bonak\u00e9 University Hospitals, regional hospitals, general hospitals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
See also<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Implementation of a treatment pathway to help people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire was initiated via the Fondation Pierre Fabre\u2019s call for projects presented at the second African Teledermatology Conference<\/a> in 2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n The prevention and treatment programme for people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire follows the roll-out that began in 2016 of a number of similar projects in five African countries: Tanzania<\/a>, Malawi, Mali<\/a>, Burkina Faso<\/a> and Togo<\/a>. The Ivorian project entails creating a mobile unit offering medical consultations in 10 regions of the country.<\/p>\n C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire has little epidemiological data on the disease, but the general census performed in 2014 reported some 6,200 people with albinism in the country. Albinism, a misunderstood condition that is still the subject of irrational beliefs, is not only responsible for needless and preventable skin cancers, but is also a stigmatising disease and it is vital that the prejudices around it be dismantled.<\/p>\n A MULTIDISCIPLINARY INITIATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n The project revolves around four complementary areas of intervention:<\/p>\n A MODEL THAT POOLS RESOURCES<\/strong><\/p>\n The programme is funded by Secours M\u00e9dico-Social Ivoirien<\/strong>, an NGO that assists albinism sufferers, and brings together many partners: public authorities, members of the scientific and medical communities, and members of civil society.<\/p>\n This cooperation is essential, as it brings together the broadest ensemble of skills and addresses all matters<\/strong> relating to the well-being of people with albinism in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. One example is sunscreen: the formula was developed by the Laboratoires Pierre Fabre in partnership with the Foundation, is produced by the Centre de Pr\u00e9vention des Cancers Cutan\u00e9s dus \u00e0 l\u2019Albinisme<\/em> (Centre for the Prevention of Skin Cancers due to Albinism), and is then distributed to recipients by way of patient associations. There will also be work focused on improving academic support for young patients, employment guidance and resources for job-seekers and support for the elderly.<\/p>\n<\/div> KEY FACTS<\/span> Priority<\/strong> Programme<\/strong> Type of involvement<\/strong> Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n THE LATEST PROGRESS<\/span> Training<\/strong> First external consultations conducted<\/strong> Opening of the sunscreen production facility<\/strong><\/p>\n Appeal<\/strong> Repair of equipment<\/strong> Launch of a database for patient monitoring<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> 10<\/span> 3,100+\u00a0<\/span> 50 000<\/span> 50<\/span> 1<\/span> A three-phase project to secure scaling<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/strong>_____<\/p>\n
\nDermatology<\/p>\n
\n2021 \u2013 2025<\/p>\n
\nDistributor and operator<\/p>\n\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/strong>_____<\/p>\n
\nAround twenty healthcare professionals based outside the capital trained in how to treat albinism<\/p>\n
\nOver 1,000 people treated (dermatology, ophthalmology and cryotherapy consultations and psychosocial assessment).
\nSun care protection kits and 500 pairs of glasses distributed<\/p>\n
\nWorking meeting to call for albinism to be included in health policies, in the presence of the Ministry of Health<\/p>\n
\nRenovation of two surgical units at the dermatology department of Treichville University Hospital, to improve the way skin cancers are treated<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES<\/h2>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>Achievements<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire regions covered by the project
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>patients aided by 2025
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>400-gram jars of SPF 50 sunscreen produced over five years
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>local health workers trained in dermatological prevention and treatment
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>Renovation of the operating theatre at the Treichville University Hospital
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Perspectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>
\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>PARTNERS<\/h2>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>See also<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/page_44.jpg\")
<\/a><\/li><\/div>