A/HRC/43/42 school before the normal age of school entry because of fear of attacks, prejudice or concerns about their children’s learning ability.40 In some instances, children with albinism have also been rejected by school authorities on the misconception that they are unable to learn in mainstream schools.41 42. While the school attendance rate for children with albinism in Australia and Japan is almost 100 per cent, the dropout rate in parts of Latin America is quite high, particularly among children with albinism from poor families, who leave school to seek work to support their families.42 The dropout rate is also reportedly high in Burkina Faso, where 30 per cent of girls with albinism do not finish primary school. 43 In Burundi, 56 per cent of persons with albinism have not completed their schooling and 20 per cent of girls with albinism do not finish primary school.44 A Zambian civil society organization estimates that only 3 out of 3,000 children with albinism finish primary school. 43. Reasons for dropping out include: (a) incessant bullying by both students and teachers; (b) poverty and an inability to pay tuition fees;45 (c) challenges in obtaining or a lack of support for using adaptive devices; 46 and (d) a lack of sun protection supplies to use during sporting or outdoor activities. All of these factors adversely affect learning. 47 Children with albinism who have to travel long distances to school often drop out because of high risks of long-term sun exposure while walking to and from school, and due to fear of being attacked on the way to school.48 3. Access to health 44. The majority of submissions indicated that access to health care, especially for those residing in rural areas, is a significant challenge for many women and children impacted by albinism.49 For example, in the United Republic of Tanzania, reportedly only 42.7 per cent of persons with albinism living in the Buhangija and Mitindo temporary holding shelters have access to health services.50 45. Barriers faced by women and children impacted by albinism in health care include: (a) the poor quality of general health services in public hospitals; (b) the high cost of health services, especially with regard to skin cancer prevention and treatment; (c) insufficient health information on albinism; and (d) negative and discriminatory attitudes from health professionals regarding albinism. 51 Even in instances where public hospitals provide free health services, there is a lack of support for eye-care services and skin cancer prevention. 52 There are very few specialists available to respond to the particular issues faced by persons with albinism. For instance, in Colombia it can reportedly take up to two years to see a dermatologist. 46. Health care is further restricted for women with albinism and mothers of children with albinism when they have been expelled from their community. In Guinea, women with albinism are expelled from their families due to the odour associated with festering and 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Submissions from Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda. Submissions from Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Nigeria. Submission from Colombia. Submission from Burkina Faso. Submission from Burundi. Submissions from Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya and Uganda. Submissions from Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Eswatini. Submissions from Burundi and Uganda. Submissions from Cameroon, Eswatini, Guinea and Uganda. Submissions from Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Submission from United Republic of Tanzania. Submissions from Burundi, Colombia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. Submissions from Côte d’ Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Uganda. 9