Ivory Coast – Co-financing of the Albivoire project with the Fondation Pierre Fabre

In the Ivory Coast, there is currently very low government policy to address the specific needs of people with albinism. People affected (PAA) by the condition are therefore in a very vulnerable situation.

The Foundation Unlimited collaborates with the Fondation Pierre Fabre

Since September 2024, the Foundation Unlimited has been working alongside with the Fondation Pierre Fabre to provide the NGO Secours Médico-Social Ivoirien (SMSI) with €180,000 to help people with albinism to be equipped with glasses.

The SMSI organizes “mobile consultation” campaigns. Every 6 to 9 months, mobile clinics travel to each regional capital covered by the project, namely Abidjan, Bouaké, Man, Korhogo, and San Pedro. Since 2024, the NGO took care of 1354 PAA and prescribed 240 glasses.

Consultation campaigns in several districts

The consultation campaign that took place in Abidjan last September recorded a very high turnout, with nearly 400 PAA consulted in 6 days, including 92 new patients. A group of about thirty patients even came from the city of Bondoukou, located more than 400 km north of Abidjan, which illustrates both the positive impact of the project, whose reputation is growing among the PAA, and the mobilization efforts of the PAA associations and people living with disabilities for this sixth edition in Abidjan.

The turnout in the city of Man was lower, mainly due to the difficulties of traveling in this very mountainous region in the north of the country and the pervasive myths surrounding albinism, which increase the fears of people and their families about traveling long distances to the hospital hosting the campaign.

Very positive feedback on the Albivoire campaigns

However, the SMSI team observed very positive feedback, particularly in terms of eye health. During the last campaign, the ophthalmologist in charge of the Albivoire project reported receiving PAA for consultations in their office between campaigns, which demonstrates the impact of the awareness and prevention messages delivered by the project (including the importance of regular ophthalmological follow-up) and the trust established between the PAA and the project’s healthcare staff. Another notable testimony was the consultation of a child with albinism who was accompanied by the head of the school where they are enrolled.

This again demonstrates the positive effects of the mobilization carried out, both at the community and institutional levels; thus, the awareness-raising of school principals carried out with the help of the Regional Directorate of Education supports advocacy efforts for children with albinism to be considered as living with visual impairment and to be effectively included in national inclusive education programs.