Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
An outreach and empowerment programme is currently underway at Bindura Country Club, where scores of people living with albinism have gathered to receive medical care and participate in awareness and empowerment initiatives.
The event, being held under the banner of Albinism in Action for Economic Development (4ED), will see the distribution of sunscreen lotions and other protective skincare products, essential in safeguarding people with albinism from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
People living with albinism lack melanin, the pigment responsible for protecting the skin against sun exposure, making them highly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancers. Access to high-factor sunscreen lotions and protective clothing is therefore vital for their health and well-being.
Guest of Honour, Zanu PF Youth League Deputy Commissar Cde Taurai Kandishaya, is leading proceedings and has reiterated the party’s commitment to inclusive development.
“We are guided by President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind. People living with albinism must be fully integrated into empowerment programmes and national development initiatives,” he said.
“Their concerns will continue to be amplified within party structures to ensure their needs, particularly in health and economic inclusion, are addressed.”
Health Ambassadors for Economic Development (4ED) are actively conducting awareness sessions at the venue, focusing on skin care management and the prevention of skin-related conditions associated with albinism.
National chairperson of Health Ambassadors 4ED, Cde Cynthia Chisiri, has commended the leadership for prioritising vulnerable communities.
“We sincerely thank Cde Kandishaya for his commitment to this cause and urge him to carry this message forward within ZANU-PF so that greater support can be mobilised for persons living with albinism,” she said.
“We also call upon corporates and stakeholders to put their hands on deck and support programmes that help persons with albinism to have access to essential health products and services.”
National chairperson of Albinism in Action for Economic Development, Cde Gerald Mhandu, said the programme goes beyond immediate relief.
“This initiative is about restoring dignity, promoting equality and ensuring that people living with albinism are not left behind in empowerment programmes,” he said.
“We continue to support progressive national policies, including Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, as they contribute to a more inclusive and representative development framework.”
The ongoing programme is also tackling misconceptions and stigma associated with albinism through community engagement and education sessions.
Participants have welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of sustained support, particularly in accessing costly but essential skincare products.
The outreach is in line with the Government’s Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve an inclusive upper middle-income society where no citizen is left behind.
