ILDS Newsletter No. 29: Efforts to Improve Lives of Patients with Albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2013, the ILDS Newsletter No. 29 detailed efforts to improve the lives of patients with albinism in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Tanzania where the incidence of albinism is 1 in 1,800 newborns. The Regional Dermatology Centre (RDTC) in Moshi, Tanzania, has been proactive in providing sun-protective clothing, early detection, and treatment of skin cancers, and has established the 'Care Unit for Persons with Albinism' (CUPWA) to offer additional resources and vocational training. The outreach program has also expanded to Singida, treating and educating over 250 patients. The Prime Minister of Tanzania and the United Nations Human Rights group have supported these initiatives. Additionally, the newsletter covered various dermatological conferences, including the 47th biannual meeting of the German Dermatological Society with over 3,200 attendees, and the 2nd World Congress of Cutaneous Lymphomas, which had more than 350 delegates and focused on the molecular and cellular causes of cutaneous lymphomas, new therapies, and personalized medicine.