Project Period: Oct 2024 – Jan 2025
The Vikela Skin Cancer Mobile Clinics Project Phase 1 was implemented to address the urgent and life-threatening burden of skin cancer among persons with albinism in Zimbabwe. Albinism is a rare genetic condition characterised by a lack of melanin, leaving individuals extremely vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Without protection and regular screening, many develop severe sunburn, chronic skin damage, and aggressive forms of skin cancer.
Evidence shows that people with albinism face up to a 1,400% higher risk of melanoma and a 200% higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancers compared to the general population. In Zimbabwe, approximately 10,000 persons with albinism live in the country, with nearly 90% residing in rural areas, where access to healthcare, sunscreen, protective clothing, and specialist screening is extremely limited. Climate change, particularly El Niño-induced heatwaves, has further intensified these risks.
Against this backdrop, The Noble Hands Zimbabwe Trust, with generous funding support from Fondation Pierre Fabre (USD 12 000.00) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care implemented two specialised mobile skin cancer clinics which were also supported by Dr Wayne Manana, Dr I Mutangadura and Dr Rulani Makondo to deliver free, life-saving services directly to communities in need.
Beneficiaries were mobilised from across Midlands Province and Matabeleland North and South, including, Shurugwi, Gweru, Mberengwa, Lower Gweru, Kwekwe, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Plumtree, Matobo, Tsholotsho, and Esigodini. Through community coordinators, traditional leaders, churches, schools, and WhatsApp mobilisation platforms, 276 persons with albinism registered, and 204 attended the mobile clinics.
The project successfully conducted two one-day specialist outreach clinics:
These clinics offered free skin cancer screening, consultations, biopsies, cryotherapy, minor excisions, and referrals, services that are ordinarily unaffordable and inaccessible for most persons with albinism in Zimbabwe.
The clinics were delivered by a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified specialists, including dermatologists, surgeons, oncologists, physicians, and trained nurses, drawn from both public and private institutions. Their involvement addressed Zimbabwe’s critical shortage of dermatology expertise, as the country currently has only two practising dermatologists, both based in Harare.
The project was implemented in collaboration with a strong network of partners, including:
These partnerships strengthened legitimacy, coordination, and sustainability.
The Vikela Skin Cancer Mobile Clinics achieved the following key results:
Beneficiaries travelled distances of up to 100 km to access services, highlighting the severe access gaps that mobile clinics help to bridge. Key lessons point to the need for stronger community sensitisation, capacity building of frontline health workers, and investment in mobile and fixed specialised skin cancer services.
Based on the project findings, it is recommended that future interventions prioritise investment in off-road and specialised mobile clinic vehicles to improve access to hard-to-reach communities, alongside the implementation of regular skin cancer mobile clinics at least twice per year to promote early detection and timely management. There is a critical need to establish a dedicated skin cancer referral centre in Bulawayo to strengthen specialised care and continuity of treatment. In addition, structured training programmes should be rolled out for nurses, doctors, and community health workers to enhance their capacity to manage albinism-related skin conditions. Awareness campaigns must be expanded within schools, churches, and community spaces to address stigma, misinformation, and prevention practices. Furthermore, dedicated funding should be secured to support post-clinic treatment, diagnostics, and referrals, complemented by baseline research examining the intersections of poverty, climate change, and health outcomes among persons with albinism to inform evidence-based programming.
The Vikela Skin Cancer Mobile Clinics demonstrated the urgent, unmet need for specialised skin cancer services among persons with albinism in Zimbabwe. Early detection and prevention can save lives, yet structural and economic barriers within the public healthcare system continue to place this community at risk.
Mobile clinics offer a practical, compassionate, and effective solution to bring life-saving care closer to those who need it most. With sustained investment, strengthened partnerships, and continued donor support, the burden of preventable skin cancer among persons with albinism can be significantly reduced.
The Noble Hands Zimbabwe Trust extends its deepest gratitude to Pierre Fabre Fondation for making this impactful project possible and for standing in solidarity with one of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable communities.
