The Dutch authorities will be distributing sun protection free of charge this summer so that its citizens can adequately protect themselves from the sun. The Dutch government wants to reduce the high levels of skin cancer that have been detected in recent years.
Sun cream will be offered through dispensers that will be located in specific locations. According to local media, the dispensers can be found in schools, universities, public parks, sports clubs, town halls and music festivals.
The pioneers in starting this initiative have been the inhabitants of the border city of Breda. The city's health establishments have incorporated sunscreen dispensers that, until a few weeks ago, supplied hand sanitizer.
In recent years, the Netherlands has reported a record increase in skin cancer cases. According to the health authorities, the use of sun protection is an effective tool to reduce the risks associated with overexposure to the sun's rays.
As Jacco Knape, governor of the coastal province of Katwijk, has stated, the new government measure "costs a little money, but we take people's health very seriously." "We often see people enjoying the sun, but not protecting themselves, and since Katwijk receives an above-average amount of sun, this is not good," he added.
In Spain, more than 8,000 new cases of melanoma cancer are estimated in 2023, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. In the last 20 years, skin cancer cases have skyrocketed in our country by 50%. In the same time period, skin cancer rates have also increased in Europe.
