Govt removes tax from sunscreen lotion

Dodoma. The government has lifted tax on importation of sunscreen lotion and other technical appliances to improve health service delivery for people with albinism in the country.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, November 8, 2017, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour Employment, Youth and Disabled Stella Ikupa said the government was aware of the needs of people with albinism and committed to ensuring their needs were met.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Mgeni Kadida (Special Seats-CCM). In her question, Ms Kadida wanted to know what the government was doing to improve the provision of sunscreen lotions to albino communities in the country.

For her part, Ms Amina Mollel (Special Seats-CCM) raised concern over how people with albinism died in rural areas due to lack of the requisite lotions.

Moreover, Ms Susan Lymo (Special Seats-Chadema) urged the government to crackdown on killings of people with albinism in rural areas due to superstitious beliefs.

"Besides making efforts, the government will also continue taking effective measures to protect people with albinism," she said.

She directed all district executive directors to include sunscreen lotions in their medicine procurement orders to the Medical Stores Department (MSD).

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