Albino organisation unveils campaign roadmap against stigmatization
Albino organisation unveils campaign roadmap against stigmatization
October 17, 2023
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Bulawayo – Zimbabwe’s persevering organisation for vulnerable community of people with albinism, Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ) has officially introduced a campaign intended to educate societies against stigma and also to isolate them from deleterious and often risky mythologies linked to the circumstance.
Loveness Mainato. Pic Panorama nyheter
Most of countries in central Africa are on record for abusing people with albinism, for rituals and financial gains, while some of the communities still dwell in beliefs that albinism is associated with curse and sorcery.
In 2015, a family was exposed by neighbours for hiding their disabled daughter, who was also an albino. The issue was reported to organisations that deal with human rights, and she was taken to safety while the parents appeared in courts.
Most of the remote communities also ignore their kids with albinism to the level of keeping them home without birth certificates, while others believe that bedding a person with albinism brings good luck or even casting away evil spirits.
Pick Nkomwa, founder of Nkomwa Foundation Trust, an organisation that deals with inclusive capacitation of persons with disabilities condemned that acts on abuse of persons with albinism.
“I believe this is the 21st century and that such heinous acts which are inhuman must end and those perpetrators of abuse must be jailed for life. We appeal to the government to completely end those evil practices.” He said.
ALCOZ Projects senior representative George Mafararikwa told the media that people with albinism are still facing humiliation, sidelining and isolation. He also added that his organisation is engaging various community influential leaders to elucidate and build relationships around the circumstances.
“We travel across the country doing outreach activities educating and empowering leaders in communities with positive information to counter bad cultural activities within cultural beliefs and mythologies within albinism, so that we can be at the same podium and also gather more sustenance for our albinism citizenry,” said Mafararikwa.
ALCOZ was established by Loveness Mainato, a mother of two children with albinism, who declares that was rejected by the family and society, after giving birth to a child with albinism.
She told the press that she raised her children alone when she got deserted by her spouse and later formed the organisation that is now helping thousands of persons with albinism. Albinism affects the production of melanin, the pigment that colours skin, hair and eyes. It’s a lifelong condition, but it does not get worse over time.
“I was horrified when I understood that folks who should have been supportive abandoned me, my husband also left me while society also labelled me with painted names,” she said.
According to Mafararikwa, the association has so far lobbied government and likeminded communities to come up with a financial plans aimed at acquiring skin care products needed by people living with albinism.
“People living with albinism have very pale skin and lotion products to cure them is always beyond reach for many because the prices are exorbitant, as a small bottle of sunscreen costs more than US$15.” He added.
According to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) in 2022, there were 9,753 people living with albinism in Zimbabwe.
Albinism is an inherited condition that leads to someone having very light skin, hair, and eyes. It happens because they have less melanin than usual in their body. Melanin gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. Except for vision problems, most people with albinism are just as healthy as anyone else.