Burkina Faso/Inclusion of people with albinism: Phase 3 of the "Gombèlè" project launched in Bobo-Dioulasso

The Association burkinabè pour l'inclusion des personnes atteintes d'albinisme (ABIPA) and its partner CBM Global officially launched the 3rd phase of the "Gombèlè" project in Bobo-Dioulasso on Tuesday April 23, 2024. The launch took place at a workshop attended by all the project's stakeholders, with the aim of encouraging their involvement in the project's implementation on the ground. Sombéniwendé Nikièma, Secretary General of the Houet province, officially launched the project on behalf of the province's High Commissioner.

Despite the many initiatives taken by the country's authorities to help people with albinism, their situation is still a cause for concern. Indeed, these people are very often confronted with frequent eye and skin pathologies.

As a result, negative social factors such as discrimination, stigmatization and exclusion persist. They also face difficulties in accessing health services, education and socio-economic integration into the community. "We are faced with problems of employment, schooling and eye and skin health. This care is very expensive, and our members don't have easy access to it.The result is the regular occurrence of skin cancers, which are a major cause of death," lamented ABIPA president Fabéré Sanou.

It is in the face of all these difficulties and with the aim of promoting the inclusion of people with albinism that CBM Global is supporting the Burkinabe association for the inclusion of people with albinism in the implementation of structuring projects. This, since 2019. The project, called "Gombèlè", aims to improve access to eye care for people withalbinism to comprehensive eye and dermatological care, and to their socio-economic reintegration in the Houet and Comoé provinces. This intervention is in line with the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in which the promotion of people's well-being is a factor in their full participation in all stages of the development process.

Strengthening the project's achievements

The project is now in its third phase. According to CBM Global Burkina's Country Director, Ousséni Badini, this phase is a logical continuation of the two previous phases. In the first phase, three studies were carried out in the fields of health, education and knowledge, attitudes and practices towards people with albinism. "These studies provided us with relevant information for planning the second phase, which also produced some encouraging results," explained director Ousséni Badini.

The results of these studies, carried out in the Houet and Comoé provinces, have been used to develop the second phase of the project.The results of these studies, carried out in the Houet and Comoé provinces, were used in the development of the 2nd phase (January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023).s, the provision of protective equipment for people with albinism, the provision of medical-technical equipment for referral hospitals in the project area; the provision of medical-technical equipment for referral hospitals in the project area; the provision of medical-technical equipment for referral hospitals in the project area.technical equipment; inclusive education and support for a number of income-generating activities.

In view of the results achieved during the first two phases and the gaps still to be filled, a 3rd phase of the project has been developed. "This phase will consolidate what has been achieved in the previous phases. It will focus on the socio-economic empowerment of people with albinism, setting up income-generating activities to raise their economic power," he emphasized.

The director of CBM Global Burkina remains convinced that when a person's economic power is raised, that person earns respect within the community and is able to provide for his or her needs, and increasingly moves away from begging. "We're also going to continue with dermatology care, which will help improve their health. This is an important element in the social integration of people with albinism. There's also the cross-cutting aspect of advocacy, to ensure that the authorities take account of their difficulties in development issues at provincial level", said Ousséni Badini.

Presenting the project to stakeholders

This project is entirely financed by CBM to the tune of 285 million FCFA. It is in line with CBM Global's policy of building an inclusive society in Burkina Faso. This 3rd phase of the "Gombèlè" project, which has just been launched in Bobo-Dioulasso, aims to ensure the inclusion of people with albinism in Burkina Faso, particularly in the provinces of Houet and Comoé. It will run for four years (2024-2027). This meeting marks the official start of activities for phase 3 of the project.

It brought together all the players involved in implementing the project, as well as local authorities, to present the content of phase 3 and receive their recommendations and commitment to the effective and efficient implementation of the project.

The meeting was punctuated by a presentation on the program and the monitoring-evaluation mechanism, followed by discussions. "This 3rd phase will consolidate the achievements of the second phase of the project. The aim is to build the capacity of health workers in the early detection of pathologies linked to people with albinism, as well as in referral becauseAt the CSPS level, health workers are encountering difficulties in treating pathologies linked to albinism", said ABIPA president Fabéré Sanou.

According to him, the project also includes screening campaigns for eye and skin pathologies among people with albinism, because, he says, "studies have revealed that there is no cure for albinism.studies have shown that there are no dermatologists or ophthalmologists in all the health centers, so we're going to put a lot of emphasis on these screening and treatment campaigns".

In addition, awareness-raising campaigns are planned through the media and community talks to "demystify" albinism and bring the real information to the community. The project will also provide support for disadvantaged pupils with albinism, to facilitate their enrolment and educational support.

Representing the province's high commissioner at the launch ceremony, the secretary general of Houet province, Sombéniwendé Nikièma, praised the initiative of this phase of the project, and in particular the financial partner CBM Global.

Source: lefaso.net/