Relook into attitudes, policies on albinism

Sharleen Mohammed

Discrimination by some teachers and fellow students affects the self-confidence and performance of students with albinism, often leading to them dropping out of school before completing their education resulting in very slim chances of carving a good future both socially and economically. Young people dream of succeeding in life and following their chosen profession one day, but young people living with albinism face an extra hard uphill battle to reach their goals.They face additional challenges including social discrimination and stereotyping that undermines their chances of success.

The discrimination by some teachers and fellow students affects their self-confidence and performance, often leading to them dropping out of school before completing their education.

“Attending schools and tertiary institutions is not easy for a person with albinism.

“We are often shunned and are likely to end up spending most of the time alone. The situation is worsened by the fact that most people in positions of authority at such institutions clearly do not appreciate that all people with albinism have special needs and that we are a delicate lot,” said 23-year-old Mazvita whose ambition is to attain a degree in social science.

Another young woman with albinism, Mavi, said she dropped out of school because of bullying and nasty comments from fellow pupils.

“When I completed my O-Level, my wish was to proceed to A-Level and then to go to university to do a degree in chemical engineering.

“Because of the bad experiences at both primary and secondary school, I decided to do a hair dressing course instead.

“The other students called me horrible names such as ‘Jeche’, ‘murungu dunhu’, ‘chipoko’, ‘Musope’,” said Nyamande who now runs a backyard hair dressing shop in Mbare.

At school she was also forced by teachers to stay in the sun for lengthy periods which negatively affected her skin and eyes.

“I couldn’t afford to buy sunscreen because both my parents were unemployed. My skin was permanently burnt and painful,” she added.

These young women’s stories represent the untold stories of many people living with the condition of albinism.

A line in the late musician James Chimombe’s song ‘‘Kudakwashe’’ says “Zvandapihwa nashe ndinogaramuchira, handirambeee, oh ndinotora handirambeee nhai”, when translated means I accept whatever God has given me.

These are the words whispered day by day by parents with children living with albinism.

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition which affects approximately one in 20 000 people across the world and over 14 000 people in Zimbabwe live with albinism, a mutation of several genes, which causes a deficit in the production of melanin that is responsible for determining skin and hair colour.

People with albinism have vision problems that are not correctable with eye glasses, and many have low vision whilst skin cancer is a serious health risk for persons with albinism.

It is the abnormal development of the retina and abnormal patterns of nerve connections between the eye and the brain that cause vision problems.

The presence of these eye problems defines the diagnosis of albinism.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa recently noted that Zimbabwe had remained resolute in protecting the right of people living with albinism.

“Because of this, we have not witnessed the horror taking place in other African countries where the ritual killing of people living with albinism has become the order of the day.

“We must continue to guard against this abominable practice from creeping into our communities through our Christian values and principles as taught in Mark 12 verse 31 which says, ‘love your neighbour as yourself,’’ she said.

Zimbabwe Albino Association fundraising chairman Mr Luke Kanhimbe said Government should empower people living with albinism, particularly in the social amenities sector as a way of curtailing marginalisation in the employment environment as organizations are shunning people with albinism. Human rights activist, Claris Madhuku says there is need for the Government to empower people living with albinism and also given the platform to speak on their condition so that the non-albino understands their sensitivity.

According to the United Nations, the physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalisation and social exclusion which leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.

“In Tanzania alone, about 75 albinos have been killed since 2000 and the frequency of attacks on them seems to be increasing, businesspeople seeking fame have been linked to some of these attacks,” reads the UN report.

Furthermore, the United Nations says most beliefs and myths associated with albinism are centuries old and are present in cultural attitudes and practices around the world.

“In Tanzania and Malawi more than 100 albinos have been brutally murdered or mutilated for their body parts amidst speculation that their body parts bring good luck and are medicinal. Innocent human beings have been denied the basic right to life because of superstition,” UN report reveals.

Women with this condition have become targets of rape fuelled by a myth that having sex with an albino eradicates HIV.

Historically people with albinism have been discriminated in Zimbabwe due to the belief that they were signs of bad omens from the ancestors or a curse had befallen the family. Thus getting rid of the child was necessary.

ZJC literature set book novel “Takadini” stages this aspect clearly. Albinos began to appear in the historical narrative of Zimbabwe in the 1950s with the Nyamayaro Family in the Chishawasha valley.

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