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STORY: For Carine Kiki, protecting her daughters from the sun in Benin's Cotonou requires constant vigilance.

Her girls are living with albinism.

That makes them part of an already vulnerable group that now faces heightened risks as West Africa grapples with extreme heatwaves.

"In terms of their health, their skin is the only problem they have. When the spots appeared on their skin, I took them to a dermatologist three times. He asked me if they were exposed to this dry season sun. I explained to him that when they come back from school, they often remove the cover I gave them. The doctor advised me to ensure that they no longer expose themselves."

Africa is heating up at a faster rate than the rest of the world.

That's according to a joint U.N.-African Union report last year that said the continent is also enduring more severe climate and weather disasters such as droughts.

:: Niamey, Niger

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West Africa in particular has faced unprecedented heat.

In April temperatures in Mali hit 48.5 degrees Celsius or 119.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Multiple countries in the region experienced temperatures well above 40 Celsius or 104 Fahrenheit.

At a clinic in Cotonou, dermatologist Diane Assogba said those with albinism face an increased risk of damage caused by ultraviolet rays.

"The accumulation of these damages leads to a modification of the skin cells, which progressively become cancerous, and thus results in a process that eventually causes skin cancer."

Assogba emphasized the importance of wearing hats, tinted glasses and protective clothing as extreme weather events become more frequent.

Those measures are officially called "photoprotection" and also form the core of work at Albi International.

The association was founded by Carine Houngue after her sister was diagnosed with skin cancer.

"Like everyone else, we have the right to live. Protect yourself and try to follow the dress code when it's hot. We won't have any major issues, just some minor vision problems which we can manage. But skin cancer is dangerous."

Climate scientists have warned that extreme heatwaves could become more frequent without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

That potentially increases the need for initiatives like Albi International, for families like Kiki's.

The challenge she faces, she says, is both medical and financial.

The smallest container of sunscreen costs 9,000 CFA francs, or about $15.

It's an expense that potentially saves lives, but that Kiki says can also be overwhelming for many families.