Kiki, protecting her daughters from the sun. In
Benin's Cotonou requires constant vigilance. Girls are living with
albinism that makes them part of an already vulnerable group
that now faces heightened risks. As West Africa grapples
with extreme heat waves in terms of their health,
their skin is the only problem they have on their
skin. I took them to a dermatologist three times
. He asked me if they were exposed to this
dry season sun. I explained to him that when
they come back from school, they often remove the
cover. I gave them, the doctor advised me
to ensure that they no longer expose themselves. Africa
is heating up at a faster rate than the rest
of the world. That's according to a joint un
African Union report last year that said the continent is
also enduring more severe climate and weather disasters such as
droughts. West Africa in particular has faced unprecedented heat
. In April. Temperatures in Mali hit 48.5°C
or 119.3°F. Multiple countries in the region experienced
temperatures well above 40°C or 104°F at a
clinic in Cotonou. Dermatologist Dian, as Sober said
those with albinism face an increased risk of damage caused
by ultra violet rays. The accumulation of these damages
leads to a modification of the skin cells which progress
become cancerous and thus results in a process that eventually
causes skin cancer. As emphasized the importance of wearing
hats, tinted glasses and protective clothing. As extreme
weather events become more frequent, those measures are officially
called photo protection and also form the core of work
at Albi International. The association was founded by Corine
Hung after her sister was diagnosed with skin cancer,
like everyone else, we have the right to live
, protect yourself and try to follow the dress code
when it's hot. We won't have any major issues
, just some minor vision problems which we can manage
but skin cancer is dangerous. Climate scientists have warned
that extreme heat waves could become more frequent without significant
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that potentially increases the need
for initiatives like lb international for families like the challenge
she faces she says is both medical and financial.
The smallest container of sunscreen costs 9000 CFA francs or
about$15. It's an expense that potentially saves lives
. But that Kiki says can also be overwhelming for
many families.