CROSSING BORDERS

With the support of the Pierre Fabre Foundation, the Skin Cancer Prevention Programme expands in Malawi

By Standing Voice

December 15^th, 2017

In December 2016, Standing Voice piloted its Skin Cancer Prevention Programme in Malawi: a life-changing moment for many people with albinism, and a huge step forward for our programme, delivered outside of Tanzania for the very first time.

This November, our team returned to Malawi to renew and expand this effort, delivering a comprehensive clinical service to patients at Mangochi District Hospital, Makanjila Health Centre and Namwera Health Centre.

Over three days, dermatologists conducted hundreds of specialist consultations, distributing sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses. 135 people with albinism were treated, with nine referred for further specialist treatment, and two receiving immediate surgical intervention on-site. All members of the community—not just people with albinism but their peers, families and caregivers—received holistic education to help protect people with albinism and stop skin cancer in its tracks.

The programme received tremendous support from the district government, who allocated its local health professionals to support clinical delivery, and took responsibility for patient transport. Venue space, ambulances, and sunscreen were all provided free of charge by the government: concrete steps toward state replication and promising indications of sustainability.

Clinics were attended by three dermatological specialists—Dr Mark Wheeler, Dr Jackson Materu, and Dr Kelvin Mponda—who trained local clinical officers in the examination and treatment of patients with albinism. Malawi’s national health system currently lacks the expertise to serve this population: an oversight Standing Voice is striving to rectify through targeted training and capacity development for frontline Malawian health workers. Dr Chokotho, a leading plastic surgeon in the country, attended the clinics and delivered surgical interventions alongside Dr Mponda.

During our visit, we held meetings with the National Ministry of Health, who have pledged support of the programme, and recommended further avenues of collaboration in future rounds of clinical delivery.

A training day was held with the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (APAM), who have local voluntary committees in each district of Malawi and work effectively on the ground as community mobilisers. Co-delivered by Programmes Manager Jamie Walling and Project Coordinator Carol O'Dea, training served to deepen APAM’s familiarity with how our programme is delivered, emphasising the importance of developing and utilising a network of stakeholders.

Next year, we look forward to extending our clinics into new areas of Malawi, and further embedding the programme within the public health system. Our growth in Malawi, and anticipated expansion across Africa, is part of our ongoing partnership with the Pierre Fabre Foundation. Because of this groundbreaking collaboration, the future is brighter for people with albinism in Malawi, and Tanzania.