Dermatology Society of Namibia

Beyond the Skin: A Campaign That Made a Difference

As we conclude the 2026 Oculocutaneous Albinism Outreach Programme, the Dermatological Society of Namibia (DSN) reflects with gratitude on a campaign that united awareness, education, prevention, and access to specialist dermatological care.

Guided by the theme "Beyond the Skin," our mission was to improve the lives of people with albinism through a programme that extended far beyond awareness.

Our journey began with a national awareness campaign promoting inclusion, sun protection, and the importance of regular dermatology screenings. We then hosted free dermatology screenings in Windhoek and Oshakati, providing specialist consultations, early detection, and identifying patients requiring further treatment.

On 12 June, we proudly commemorated International Albinism Awareness Day, bringing together healthcare professionals, advocates, community members, and people with albinism to celebrate resilience, foster understanding, and champion inclusion.

The campaign concluded with our dermatology surgical week, where patients identified during screening received life-changing surgical care. This continuum from awareness to screening, commemoration, and treatment is what made this programme truly meaningful.

This impact was only possible through strong partnerships.
A sincere thank you to our main sponsor, Dr Holm Pathologists, for making this outreach programme possible.

We also extend our appreciation to:
Albinism Society of Namibia for donating sun-protective hats.
Galderma, PPS Namibia, and Omkwana Caterer for their valued support.
Windhoek Central Hospital and Oshakati Intermediate Hospital for partnering with us in delivering screening and surgical services.

A heartfelt thank you to BIODERMA for facilitating the educational booklets, and to Laetitia Fourie, Dr. Yashica Khalawan for making this all possible, the University of the Free State Department of Dermatology, the National Albinism Task Force (South Africa), Sandra Makwembere, and NAOS South Africa for their expertise, collaboration, and dedication in making these resources possible.

A special tribute goes to Khatu Nambala, the face of this year's campaign, and to her mother, whose passion, leadership, and commitment inspired so many and helped drive this campaign forward.

Finally, thank you to our dermatologists, surgeons, nurses, volunteers, media partners, performers, and everyone who contributed their time and expertise. Most importantly, thank you to every person who trusted us with their care.
Together, we proved that awareness is most powerful when it leads to action. From awareness to screening. From commemoration to surgery. We truly went Beyond the Skin.

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The Surgical Campaign Has Begun

Today marks the beginning of the next phase of our Albinism Awareness Campaign our dermatology surgical campaign.

Following a successful screening programme, patients identified as requiring surgical treatment are now receiving the care they need.

This marks an important step in our commitment to ensuring that awareness is followed by action and that early detection leads to timely treatment.

Running from 22–26 June, the surgical campaign brings together dedicated healthcare professionals working to improve the lives of people living with

Oculocutaneous Albinism and other patients requiring dermatological surgery.

This campaign is a reminder that access to specialist care can make a life-changing difference. By detecting skin conditions early and providing appropriate treatment, we are helping to reduce the burden of Skin Cancer and improve long-term health outcomes.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the surgeons, dermatologists, nurses, partners, and volunteers whose expertise and dedication are making this initiative possible.

From awareness to screening, from screening to surgery, we are changing lives, one patient at a time.