Goma to Host World Vitiligo Day 2026 Summit as Global Leaders Push for Skin Health Equity in Conflict-Affected Regions
“Hosting this event here proves that our people are not just victims of crisis but leaders of global health transformation. We are turning our collective pain into power.”
By Peter Otienbo
GOMA, DRC – Goma is set to become a global focal point for skin health equity on July 8, 2026, when it hosts a major World Vitiligo Day summit under the theme, “From Stigma to Strength.”
The event was announced by Mr. Myatsi Benjamin, President of the Congolese Vitiligo Association (ACV), who described the summit as a direct appeal to international non-governmental organizations to integrate dermatological care into humanitarian and mental health programmes in conflict-affected regions.
“In the DRC, especially in the eastern part of the country, people living with vitiligo face stigma, discrimination, misinformation, and limited access to quality dermatological care and psychological support,” Mr. Benjamin stated.
In North Kivu, individuals living with vitiligo face a dual challenge: the impact of conflict and severe social exclusion. Misconceptions surrounding the autoimmune condition often result in lost livelihoods and significant psychological trauma. By bringing global attention to Goma, the ACV seeks to demonstrate that targeted health advocacy can help restore human dignity in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
“Goma is a city of immense resilience,” Mr. Benjamin emphasized. “Hosting this event here proves that our people are not just victims of crisis but leaders of global health transformation. We are turning our collective pain into power.”
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the ACV has established a broad coalition that includes VIPOC, GlobalSkin, World Patients Alliance, NORD, René Touraine Foundation, Vitiligo Research Foundation, ICHOM Patient Partner Alliance, the French Vitiligo Association, and official brand partner MASSE WORLD.
Crushing the Myths
Ahead of the July 8 summit, the ACV is promoting a clear, science-based message aimed at eliminating discrimination and misinformation surrounding vitiligo:
- Vitiligo is a medical condition and is entirely non-contagious.
- Changes in skin pigmentation do not diminish a person’s dignity, intelligence, or value.
- People living with vitiligo deserve equal economic, educational, and social opportunities.
“Let me be absolutely clear,” Mr. Benjamin concluded. “Vitiligo is not a curse, and it is not contagious. Our skin may lose its pigment, but our people never lose their dignity or their value. It is time for the world to stop looking at our skin and start seeing strength.”
Mr. Benjamin and the ACV have extended an invitation to ministries and public institutions in the DRC, international donors, human rights observers, universities, professional societies, and people living with vitiligo to attend the event in Goma and support what they describe as a historic movement for inclusion, awareness, and dignity.
World Vitiligo Day is traditionally observed annually on June 25.
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