'Embrace us, make society no look us different' - Young Ghanaian vitiligo model and activist preach against stigma

Wen Abigail Asabea Boateng wey pipo also sabi as Abigail Anderson first see one yellow patch for her lips wen she dey 16 years old, she no tink say ibi anytin serious.

But wit time, di patches spread for her bodi wey make her different; she lose most of her dark skin colour.

For her school days, she no still tink about am as anytin serious until her diagnosis.

"I be di first pesin for my family wey get dis condition – for di beginning I neva really accept am, my papa also no understand am until di doctor explain give am say make dem accept my new reality."

Abigail say at first she be shy wey she no get confidence as she see say her skin dey different, but she begin to embrace am early.

"Vitiligo make I dey feel different to di extent say now I fit embrace di part of me wey I neva tink say I get; my confidence, social skills and oda tins," Abigail Anderson tok BBC News Pidgin.

For many Ghanaians, vitiligo be new condition; in fact for some pipo dem tink say ibi spiritual wahala or say di pesin im skin burn.

'Sometimes I meet pipo wey tink say my skin burn'

Abigail say she meet many pipo for town wey go ask her if she suffer burns.

"Mostly pipo dey tink say I suffer burns; from gas, hot water or fire outbreak, wey dem go dey prescribe medicine for my skin, if I dey good mood, I dey listen to dem, if my mood no beta, I dey ignore dem," she tok.

Wit her new confidence, Abigail now enta modelling industry to show di world say pipo like her also fit do am.

She take her inspiration from popular Canadian vitiligo model and actress Winnie Harlow.

And for dis short time, Abigail already model for at least three runways last year alone wey she dey get oda brand deals and fashion opportunities.

"As model, vitiligo carry me go places wey I neva tink say I fit enta."

Abigail tok BBC News Pidgin say "if I be normal pesin, I no tink say I fit reach wia I dey and enta di places vitiligo carry me enta, wey I dey on runways, I dey model for brands and oda tins."

"Sometimes for modelling events wen I comot for di stage, pipo dey watch me well well wey I dey feel good say at least dem go know say pipo like me dey. Also, I wan represent for di industry internationally," Abigail tok.

'Pipo dey embrace us small small through our activism'

"Pipo begin dey know more about vitiligo small, small - I dey use my social platforms to educate dem and tok about di myths and oda tins wey relate to dis condition," Abigail tok.

"Through our advocacy and activism, some pipo wit vitiligo comot for dia shell to embrace dia identity witout fear."

Abigail say for di modelling industry, diversity dey important, so brands and oda fashion houses gatz use pipo like dem to empower di generation.

"No be evritime dem for dey use pipo wit full colour as models, sometimes dem for use pipo like us and also albinos and oda pipo wey be different, to promote diversity and inclusion."

Any one tin dem go expect from society as dem dey continue for dis journey wit vitiligo?

"Well, we go tok society say make dem continue to embrace pipo like us, make dem no do and make us look so different, we be human beings like dem, only our colour be different."

Wetin be vitiligo and e dey contagious?

Sabi pipo describe vitiligo as chronic autoimmune condition wia patches dey appear on di skin of pesin sake of loss of melanin cells for di bodi.

Melanin dey inside di cells of human beings wey e dey responsible for di colour of di eyes, hair and di skin.

Director for Vitiligo support group, Vitiligo Ghana - Enam Honya Heikeens explain say If somtin be autoimmune, e mean say di immune system of di bodi mistakenly attack and damage im own cells, tissues and organs inside bodi.

Enam wey also get di skin condition explain say dis patches for di skin dey irregular in shape wey dem dey affect di face, di hands, di legs and di joints for most pipo.

Vitiligo dey affect pipo from all races wey e also dey affect both men and women.

"Even though sabi pipo still dey do research to find di reason why di bodi system dey attack im own cells to cause vitiligo, some factors like genetics fit expose pipo to di condition," Enam tok.

"Oda factors like emotional stress, exposure to di sun and industrial chemicals like chlorine and odas fit put pesin at risk. But Vitiligo no dey contagious – e no dey spread from one pesin to di next pesin through contact," Director for di Vitiligo Ghana, Enam further explain.

Di condition no get cure at dis time, but pipo wey get am get treatment options.

"Tins like light therapy, surgery, de-pigmentation and supplementary therapy dey available but skin doctor go assess di pesin and recommend wetin go work give dem."