Thanks to donations from Rabobank Share4more and Cordaid the Foundation African Albinos can start up a project for the local production of sun block in Mali.

The Foundatiom African Albinos is starting a second project in Mali whereby sun block can be produced independently. The viability of this project is mainly thanks to the contributions from development organisation Cordaid and Rabobank Share4More. This is a fund set up by employees of the Rabobank Group. As well as distributing sun block from the Netherlands the Foundation also wishes to stimulate the local production of sun block in African countries. Being able to produce sun block in an African country is important as those suffering from albinism will then no longer be dependant on sun block donations for the protection of their skin. The Foundation African Albinos is offering help so that, together with the Albino Association in Mali, this can be set up. At the end of November a volunteer from the Foundation leaves for Mali to join with the Albino Association SIAM (Solidarité pour l'insertion des Albinos du Mali) in starting up and coordinating the local production of sun block there. Production will take place in the capital city of Bamako in a laboratory at the Dermatological Institution Marchoux, where work on albinism and skin cancer already takes place.

These two major donations have enabled the Foundation African Albinos to make a start on this important project in Mali. Further financial support is necessary to ensure the continuation of this project in the future. For donations on behalf of this project the following a/c can be used: 4442081 - project Mali

SIAM

Since their establishment in 2009 SIAM has been actively involved in the distribution of sun block sent out by the Foundation. For this year the organisation has made local production of sun block their aim. As well as this they wish to maintain contacts with specialists concerning solutions for the skin problems and the care that they need. SIAM is also working on coming to an agreement with the government so that the sun block that the Foundation sends by air freight can be imported at a lower rate of duty.

Successful project in Malawi

The Foundation African Albinos has developed a degree of expertise through the first local production of sun block in Malawi. At the Queen Elisabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre local production of sun block commenced in 2008. In the ‘skin clinic’ a laboratory where production can be achieved completely independently has been fitted out. The basic ingredients are still being supplied by the foundation but steps are already being taken to ensure that this too can be handed over to them.