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Thursday, August 25th, 2011

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Robinson Albinism Project

Albinism Health Project

While a Peace
Corps Volunteer, Ms Robinson noticed a relatively high incidence of
albinism in the cities of Dakar and Thies, Senegal.

She began to inquire about
the causes of this condition, as well as related health effects. It
was difficult obtaining information on the etiology of this disease
due to the cultural taboo surrounding this condition.

Finally,
she was introduced to a family with two sons with albinism. The oldest
son, El Hadj Galaye, was in his early twenties at the time. She was
quite impressed with his understanding and description of his health
condition. On her vacation to the U.S., Linda visited a medical library
in Baltimore to gather information on the condition of albinism.

Upon her
return to Senegal, El Hadj told Linda of the problems facing the albinism
population, and the day-to-day issues confronting people with albinism.
Many were unable to attend school. As a livelihood, many resorted to
panhandling (mendiant du rue, Fr.) because they could not find
work. El Hadj was one of the few who had completed high school. He had
been looking for an opportunity to help people like himself, better
their lives. When Linda showed interest and concern, he saw an opportunity.

Together
Linda and El Hadj decided to do some demographics in the area. They
located and met with other people in the community with albinism.
After discussing common needs and goals, together they founded L’Association
Nationale des Albinos du Senegal or L’ANAS. This organization seeks
to organize people throughout the country in addressing the issues
of literacy, training and skills, health services such as eye exams,
skin exams, sports and income-generating activities for people with
albinism.

They convened a seminar at
Thies’ Chamber of Commerce, to which medical providers, social workers,
educators, merchants, Peace Corps administrators, volunteers, and families
were invited.

They began by educating the
albinism community about this condition and related health issues such
as predisposition to skin cancer in this tropical climate. They were able
to obtain free eye exams and donated eye drops for members. Linda and
El Hadj continued their public education campaign on national television.

A local physician chairs
the seminar, introducing the panel of medical, social and economic
experts.

As a result, of this seminar
entitled "A Day in the Life of an Albino", the
governor of Thies gave the new organization a parcel of land.

With this donation of land,
Linda and El Hadj set out to seek funding to build a community center.
A proposal was submitted and funded through an American embassy program,
to construct this facility. Construction was completed in 1997.

The dedication
took place in1998 with Congressman Donald Payne (NJ) and Congressman
Tom Campbell (CA), in attendance, during their visit to Senegal. The
center was named in Linda’s honor.

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Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Lalar
www.senegalview.com/index.html
Updated: August 2009

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Peace Corps Volunteer Linda Robinson

RPCV (Returned
Peace Corps Volunteer) LINDA ROBINSON is from Maryland. As a non-traditional
volunteer, she is the mother of Tanea and Ricardo, and grandmother of four.
Linda currently works as a Medical Librarian.

With a background
in public health, Linda served in Peace Corps Senegal’s Health Program from
1995-1997. Her 2 1/2 year tour was an exciting and productive one while assigned
to the District Hospital’s Public Health Education Office in Thies, Senegal.
In the city of Thies and surrounding villages she participated in the following
Health Education activities:

Nutrition Education	Breastfeeding Promotion	Cholera Prevention
AIDS Education	Family Planning	Sanitation Education
Pediatric Immunizations	Malaria Prevention	ALBINISM HEALTH PROJECT *

As
a secondary project,
she became interested in the condition of people with albinism. Subsequently,
the *ALBINISM
HEALTH PROJECT was started. She is co-founder of L’Association
Nationale des Albinos du Senegal (National Association of Albinos of Senegal).
Ms Robinson wrote a proposal which was funded for the construction of
a community center. This center now houses literacy classes and health
services to children with albinism and residents in the surrounding community.
What is albinism?

At the dedication ceremony
for the center, U.S. Congressman Donald Payne (NJ)
and Congressman Tom Campbell (CA) were in attendance. Family members of
L’ANAS named the center Robinson House Community Center for Albinos, in her
honor. Her work has been featured in the
Washington Afro-American Newspaper Fifty magazine, AARP’s
Modern Maturity Magazine, Peace
Corps Online, and ELLE Magazine (Fr.)

To
top off her memorable Peace Corps experience, Oprah
Winfrey flew Linda from Senegal to Chicago as a guest on her Mother’s
Day Show. Since returning to the U.S., she has established the Friends
of L"ANAS Committee which collects and ships sunscreen lotion, caps
and sunglasses to the children of
L’ANAS.