Chronicle Editor
Nonsikelelo Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
WHEN he was transferred from his first school to one where he was to learn with disabled children, it scared Khulani Moyo who has albinism.
Even at that young age, he had thought that there was something different about him, something that set him apart from other children at school. That transfer was a hammer blow, a confirmation of the fact that there was indeed something wrong with him.
He used to have problems with his eyes but he never thought that was a reason enough to change schools to one specifically for people with disabilities.
“Transferring at the age of eight from a mainstream school to one serving kids with disabilities was a huge blow for me because it was confirmation that I was indeed disabled and did not deserve to attend a normal school like other kids,” said Moyo, now a university student.
He said one of the side effects of albinism was poor eyesight and he wouldn’t see clearly what was written on the board.
“This prompted me to seek permission from my teacher to sit in the front row. Because of little appreciation of my condition my teacher would lash out at me, calling me worthless. And from that, other students began to treat me differently as well.
“It’s not easy being in a place where you’re the only different person and the difference is pronounced. You become very conscious and your confidence is affected, mine really ebbed and it even affected my performance. My skin, as you can see, is freckled, and to be honest, it scares a lot of people. They can’t even look at me straight in the eye because my eyeballs seem a bit creepy to them.
“When I go out with my friends and I’m having a beer, people side-eye me, as if to say albinos can’t drink or have a good time like anybody else. It puts me off because they don’t understand that I’m equally human just like them. It seems difficult for many people to accept that albinos do things that any other person does,” said Moyo.
Khulani`s frustrations are justified and shared by many other people with albinism as the country today joins the world in recognising the International Day of Albinism. This day was selected in recognition of the first United Nations Resolution on Albinism, which was adopted in Geneva at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 13 June 2013.
Globally, albinism affects approximately one in 20 000 people, it is a genetic condition resulting in little or no pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. While a lot of strides have been made, there is still a lot to do to change societal attitudes towards people with albinism as discrimination against them is still rampant. Some face discrimination and victimisation by their relatives, families and within their respective communities.
In superstitious societies there are still reports of albino hunters who brutally hack off the hair, arms, legs, skin, eyes, and genitals of their victims. The belief is that the body parts are useful in witch doctors’ spells and potions.
In Malawi, Tanzania, and other parts of East and Southern Africa albinos are persecuted, hunted down, and mutilated for their body parts. Zimbabwe Albino Mission Trust (ZAMT)’s spokesperson Mr Terrance Mushambi said they have prepared for the day but because of the Covid-19 restrictions they were not going to have big congregations but there will be one at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo.
He said appreciation and understanding of the condition has since improved in the country owing to efforts being carried out by various stakeholders in conscientising the communities about albinism.
“We have witnessed an improvement in how people with albinism are treated and it’s a positive pointer to the efforts that have been going on. We however, continue to lobby the government to consider the costs of importing the special lotions needed especially the sunscreen Sun Protection Factor (SPF50) that is commonly used in the country.
This will help us not rely on donations where we are sometimes given sunscreen lotions that are not compatible with us,” said Mr Mushambi.
He said the lotions still cost an arm and a leg to most of their membership. Noble Hands Zimbabwe Trust co-founder Ms Marvelous Tshuma said what she went through and the challenges faced by people with albinism spurred her into launching a campaign to help people with albinism in Zimbabwe. She launched the Albinism Connect Campaign.
“We launched this Albinism Connect Campaign last month in response to the plight of people with albinism. We are trying to assist them overcome their daily challenges.”
She said poor access to sunscreen creams, spectacles and cancer treatment has also added to their woes.
“We are launching an Albinism Connect Campaign in every province. We want to help them with protective clothes, sunscreen, and aqueous creams, and sun hats. We are moving around the provinces assisting these people, especially in areas with high temperatures such as Gokwe, Binga and Beitbridge,” she said.
She said although there were no reports of their persecution to levels seen in East Africa, access to education, health and opportunities were often a huge challenge.
“The day-to-day story about albinism is discrimination and stigmatisation. Yes, discrimination is there. However, people with albinism must be confident. This way one can do whatever they set their mind to do,” she said.
She added that the International Day of Albinism was special to her as it was an opportunity to reflect and educate people about albinism.
“To me, this is a day that we get to come together as a global village to celebrate as well as educate each other on what albinism is,” she said.
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