The plight of albinos

Lazarus Sauti

Some countries in the African continent are the worst places to be for an albino. Because African albinos are especially noticeable, it is difficult for them to enjoy the sacrosanct right, the right to life in some parts of Africa.

People with albinism – a congenital disorder that robs skin, eyes and hair of their pigment, are attacked and hunted like animals.

They are also deprived of basic health services vital for their survival, according to the World Health organisation – a specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health.

Further, on the continent well known as the cradle of humanity, people with albinism are believed to possess special powers, but not in a good way – myths that Rutendo Mawere, a highly innovative, motivational and interactive Zimbabwean media and human rights activist, describes as wild and terrifying.

“Albinism is believed to be contagious so people are afraid to touch people with the disorder.

“More so, some people believe albinism is the result of a curse from the spirits on the family with a member with such condition, so it is thought to be unwise to associate with such a family,” she noted.

In most, if not all, African societies, pregnant women are discouraged from looking at people with albinism as the belief is they will give birth to a child with the condition.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, the flesh of people living with albinism is thought to contain ingredients that can bring luck, fertility, wealth and ward off evil spirits.

Due to these petrifying myths, adds Mawere, lives of people with albinism are in danger.

True to Mawere’s word, in Malawi, for instance, an 11 year-old girl was kidnapped in January by her uncle, who was told he could get US$6 500 for her body.

Sadly, two other albino children were also abducted, and a 68-year-old woman was found dead and dismembered that same month, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

Amir Manento, a retired judge and human rights activist, also said around 30 000 people with albinism are thought to be living in Tanzania, where they have to survive with the risk of being killed and their body parts fetching high prices for witchcraft.

According to a report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, he added, a complete set of Albino body parts – including all four limbs, genitals, ears, tongue and nose – can fetch up to US$75 000.

Manento also asserted that in October, Tanzanians will go to the polls to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections, and this is possibly the worst time to be a person living with albinism in the country.

“Every election period brings with it a new cycle of killings. In between we have other smaller elections translating to more abductions, more killings.

“We see an increase of witchcraft and the use of human body parts, particularly albino body parts, in the run-up to the general elections.

“Albino body parts are associated with good luck, and as the country gears up for the elections, the demand for good luck charms goes up. Sacrifices during this time are thought by some to be a sure way of guaranteeing victory in the polls,” he asserted.

Isaac Maigua Mwaura, Kenya’s first albino Member of Parliament, says it is time measures are put in place to end these killings and abductions.

Mwaura added that strict laws need to be established and adhered to by all affected countries.

“Enforcement of laws is one of the weakest links in this war. We have become the hunted. Neither we nor our children are safe. Fathers are betraying their children’s trust and selling them off like unwanted baggage. Mothers are conspiring to traffic their own flesh and blood to senseless deaths.

“Therefore, governments must establish strong laws and policies to promote and protect the lives of people with albinism,” he said.

Tapiwa Gwenlisa Marange of Alive Albinism Initiative – a platform to educate society and empower people with albinism in Zimbabwe, believes political, business and religious leaders as well as individual members of society must educate societies to understand that a person with albinism is a human being and having such a child is not a gateway to quick riches.

“Society needs to understand what albinism is; it needs to be more empowered and supported to co-operate. Therefore, political, business and religious leaders as well as nongovernmental organisations should not only empower people with albinism with life skills, but should encourage the society to respect their rights,” she explained.

The WHO agrees, “Governments should also increase public awareness of the condition and listen and respond to the concerns of organisations representing people living with albinism.”

The international public health agency also encouraged individual African states to carry out surveys that determine the prevalence of albinism, and build up proper policies for assisting people with albinism.

“Individual states should develop appropriate strategies that integrate albinism awareness in the school curricula, especially to correct misconceptions about the condition, educate counsellors in schools about albinism as well as train health care providers at clinics and hospitals about albinism,” noted the WHO, adding that the strategies should also encourage community self-help support groups.

“Albinism has to be recognised as being a medical condition and not a curse.

“As a result, African countries need to train their health care staff to deliver albino children the same way they do black-pigmented children and offer counselling services to couples who deliver such children.

“African countries need to respond to the needs of their people living with albinism by providing free skin lotions and subsidized or free glasses.”

The Tanzanian government, after being encouraged by the United Nations, officially banned witchcraft in an effort to stem the killings of people with albinism.

In view of that, fellow African governments must also ban witchcraft; and security agencies in respective African countries must be placed on high alert to provide maximum protection to people with albinism.