Experts have advocated the inclusion of People With Albinism in all aspects of the society especially in line with SDG 13 which is to combat climate change and its impact on persons with disabilities in general.
The Executive Director of the Advocacy for Persons with Albinism Network, Nnene Bassey made the call in her speech at the International Albinism Awareness Day(IAAD) organised by the Albinism Network Association (TANA) Lagos, Nigeria.
In her presentation entitled: “Impact of Climate Change on Vulnerable Group; Persons with Albinism “Nnene Bassey posited that PWA should be involved in the decision-making processes and push to be seen as the subject of rights and therefore entitled to non-discrimination .
She said “(World Health Organization) Hundreds of cities on earth are exposed to polluted air daily. Among the world’s most affected places are fast-growing urban areas in Africa and Asia. Air pollution claims over 712,000 lives in Africa every year according to statistics than poor hygiene and malnutrition.
Also speaking an Independent Expert on the enjoyment of Rights for Persons with Albinism, Ms. Mulukka Anne said Climate change fast track the development of skin cancer and it is considered to be the greatest health threat of the 21st century to PWA aside from the sun being the route cause of skin cancer, and Watt N, Amann M (The lance countdown on Health and climate change 2017).
However, Bassey said “Countries like Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa rank among the thirty metropolitan areas with the poorest quality of air in Africa.
“WHO air pollution is the greatest environmental risk factor to health with three million people dying prematurely every year, persons with Albinism are not excluded especially in areas where those activities of petroleum combustion occur. Both oil spills by the companies and vandalism of the companies’ oil installations by militants have resulted in years of devastating environmental pollution to the land, and water, but just a significantly, gas flaring contributes to severe air pollution. Oil companies in Nigeria flare over 313 Million cubic feet of gas annually according to a satellite data estimate from Ministry of Environmental in Nigeria.
Speaking on Gas Flarring ,Bassey said ” the gas flared result in the emission of 16.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. In 1990, 2013, and 2017, UNICEF reported that the most potent risk factor of death in Africa especially in Southern Nigeria is air pollution. Inclusion indeed is strength, Person with Albinism (PWA) need other parastatals to collaborate in other to achieve a conducive and safe society for all. The big picture is that without adequate monitoring of air quality and limiting the causes of air pollution, the problem will only get worsen given Africa’s expected population boom of about 1.3 billion people by 2050 resulting in more pollution.
“Gas flaring, also known as a flare stack results from the burning of the natural gas associated with oil extraction. In Nigeria, flaring significantly leads to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere which constitute global warming. Heat-trapping gasses such as Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen oxide, and Sulphur oxide (GHG) increase flaring activities with its attendant effect raising global warming. Gas flaring harms vegetation and water quality resulting from acid.
“Acid Rain is a precipitation that contains atmospheric pollutants caused by the burning of fossils that is acidic. The waste gases or air pollutants are Sulphur and Nitrogen oxides which combine with atmospheric water to form acid rain. Causes of Acid Rain includes Combustion of petroleum/fossil fuel,Power plants and manufacturing refineries, Industries and automobiles, from Volcanic eruption.
Global Warming: The gradual increase of earth surface temperature. Climate Change: The long-term change in global weather pattern.
Statement of Problem and Practical Application
Intergovernmental panel on climate (PCC) 2021 stated that PWA amidst suffering unemployment, poverty, man-made barriers and the projected devastating effects of climate change, that their health is impacted by the rising temperature and increasing concentration of GHG in the atmosphere caused long-standing post-traumatic stress disorder and invisible disability to PWA which leads to short life expectancy.
Due to a lack of melanin on PWA, they are vulnerable to the ultraviolet rays from the sun which can cause sunburn, blisters, elastosis, and actinic keratosis, and are at constant risk of developing skin cancer and acid rain fastens its growth due to the presence of the air pollutants that form acid rain.
Some measures recommended were ,Wearing long-sleeved clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, and a sun protective factor is not a guarantee to stay under the sun for a long duration
“This is because, PWA are reported to have a lower life expectancy due to skin cancer. PWA must consciously protect themselves.
Acid rain wears out the surface of the building, corrodes metals, causes paints and stones to deteriorate more quickly thereby Increasing it maintenance cost, and so on.
“Walking in acid rain or swimming in lakes, streams, polls that has those air pollutants is not harmful compared to inhaling the air pollutants because it pose grave health risks to humans(PWA) as there are reports of developing certain types of cancer caused by immunomodulation.
Practical Application
A great way to reduce acid rain is to produce energy without using fossil fuels and produce much lesser pollution renewable energy).
Research shows that it damages the health of PWA (by reducing the efficacy of their immune system), especially the skin thus collaborate with the Government for social justice to be implemented .
PWA should be involved in decision-making processes or policy-making tables on climate change with more focus on the Health implication of Gas Flaring/Acid Rain or Effects.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) aims to address threat of anthropogenic (human induced) climate change at an international level. The framework seeks the “stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. Provides financial resources for implementation of provisions of convention through the GEF Trust Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Adaptation Fund.
Recommendations
With reference to the following protocols; Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR), Article 25 (1) of the Declaration grounds access to health care, Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, there should be full implementation of these laws by the Government.
Other measures highlighted included , Rethink. Repair. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Change your light bulbs: Use CFL or LED. Both use at least 75% less energy than regular bulbs and last much longer.
Make less trash- reduce, reuse, recycle: Make sure to recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass, and aluminum cans
“Use less water: Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
Walk and bike more: Leave your car at home two days a week. This will lower the amount of greenhouse gases we release by about two tons each year.
Plant a tree: Make it a family activity and plant a tree every year.
Mitigation: reducing emissions and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; and Adaptation: adapting to the changes we have already caused due to climate change, and the changes we anticipate in the future.”