At least 13 people with albinism in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have died from skin cancer in the past six months, according to a campaign group that says COVID-19 restrictions have made it harder for patients to access life-saving medical care.
The alarming figure underscores how the pandemic has deepened existing health and social challenges for the country’s albino community.
Rising Deaths Amid a Global Health Crisis
Simon-Pierre Kalenga, president of the non-governmental organisation OBIAC, revealed that the deaths occurred in the DRC’s southeastern region, which is home to more than 1,000 people with albinism, based on 2019 estimates.
Kalenga, who is himself an albino, explained that the condition leaves skin without protective pigment, making individuals highly vulnerable to skin cancer — particularly in sun-intense climates.
“The pandemic has meant that the situation of albinos, which was already catastrophic, has got worse,” Kalenga said. “Over the last six months, we have lost at least 13 albinos. They died as a result of skin cancer.”
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, OBIAC held weekly Sunday gatherings where members could discuss challenges related to albinism, monitor the health of vulnerable individuals, and coordinate support. These meetings stopped due to social distancing and lockdown measures, leaving many patients without the regular medical check-ups and community oversight they relied on.
Barriers to Medical Access
Travel restrictions and economic hardship created by the pandemic meant that many cancer patients could not reach hospitals or afford treatment. Kalenga noted that the lack of transportation, combined with reduced incomes, effectively cut off access to early diagnosis and therapy, allowing conditions to worsen.
OBIAC has called on Congolese authorities to step in and provide practical support, including regular access to sun cream and protective eyewear — basic preventive tools that can reduce the risk of skin damage and cancer among albinos.
A Broader Human Rights Issue
Beyond the health challenges, people with albinism in Africa face systemic discrimination, stigma, and in some regions, life-threatening danger. Misconceptions and superstitions have led to violent attacks, ritual killings, and grave desecrations targeting albinos.
In November, two albino children in the eastern province of South Kivu narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt, according to Juvenal Lushule, president of the provincial albino association APIA. He warned that the threat is constant: “There are overwhelming threats against us albinos — some people even feel compelled to dig up albinos’ bones for vile purposes.”
The Urgent Need for Protection
Human rights advocates say the pandemic has magnified vulnerabilities for already marginalized groups.
In the case of albinos in the DRC, the combination of medical neglect, social isolation, and targeted violence has created a multi-layered crisis.
Health experts recommend that preventive measures — such as public awareness campaigns, provision of affordable sunscreen, and regular dermatological screenings — be integrated into the country’s public health strategy. Such steps could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths among people with albinism.
Looking Ahead
For organisations like OBIAC and APIA, the priority is to restore community networks and secure government-backed assistance. Kalenga insists that with the right resources and protection, many of the recent deaths could have been prevented.
As the DRC continues to navigate the pandemic’s economic and health challenges, advocates are urging policymakers not to overlook the needs of the country’s albino population.
The tragic deaths of these 13 individuals serve as a reminder that the pandemic’s toll extends far beyond COVID-19 itself, exacerbating existing inequalities and threatening the survival of those already on the margins of society.
