LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
@SunZambian
LET us stop discriminating persons with albinism because they are people too and their lives matter, says founder of Zambian Albinism Matters Memory Banda.
Ms Banda was saddened that many people in society did not want to associate with persons with albinism because of many myths that surrounded them.
She was speaking at the commemoration of World International Albinism Awareness Day, aimed at creating more awareness in society by breaking the silence.
Ms Banda said most mothers in the community were the most affected and hid their children with albinism in homes for fear of discrimination against them.
“They are mothers out there who are hiding their children and persons with albinism because of society. Us who are discriminating them can we stop discrimination them they are people too they are like that because of the genes and these are the genes we cannot remove from our body,” he said.
Meanwhile British Council of Zambia acting director, Ackim Banda said according to the Central Statistics Office, there were more than 30,000 person with albinism in Zambia and that they were also reported cases of attacks against them.
Mr Banda said known cases of violence against a person with albinism had been reported in December, 2017 when a young woman’s hand was cut off by unknown criminals.
He said more than 25,000 Zambian with albinism had a challenge of over exposure to sunlight which led to an increase in skin cancer cases especially in rural areas according to Albino Foundation of Zambia.
Mr Banda further said persons with albinism had safety concerns stemming from prejudice driven by harmful tradition beliefs and connected to the trafficking human body parts near the shared border with Tanzania,” he said.
