Learning about albinism
Call for awareness and education
THE WESTERN Cape Albinism And Hypo-Pigment Foundation launched an awareness campaign in Langa at the weekend.
The NPO organised the event with the Western Cape and national departments of Arts and Culture.
In attendance was drama group Langa Mud and Parable, Novalis Ubuntu Institute, dermatologists from the Genetic Department of UCT and Tygerberg Hospital, teachers from the Athlone School for the Blind, traditional healers, Love in Action Foundation, various NGOs and community leaders.
“We are launching the awareness campaign today because September has been declared a genetic month, and albinism is a genetic condition,” said Narcisse Kimbassa, legal officer at the foundation.
He said pigmented people discriminated against those with albinism.
“Eyesight and skin problems don’t inhibit people with albinism from achieving their goals in life,” said Kimbassa. “It is the society that puts limitations on people with albinism and say they are stupid because they can’t read.”
Kimbassa said the NGO worked with various others to expose people with albinism to job opportunities and provide them with skills.
He said pupils with albinism were discriminated against, at school.
“Teachers classify them as slow learners because of their low vision. They are not slow, but they have vision that needs help,” said Kimbassa.
He said teachers could help by giving those pupils recorders, computers with specific software to accommodate their vision, and handouts with large letters instead of making them copy notes from a board.
“Some teachers don’t understand that pupils with albinism can’t see the board,” said Kimbassa.
“Their peers call them names and fights break out, but the teachers have no idea why they fight. The name-calling damages the self-esteem of learners with albinism.”
Kimbassa also said company bosses should make workplace environments conducive for people with albinism.
“Outdoor work is a challenge because of the sun, which damages skin,” he said. “But because people with albinism struggle to do outdoor work on sunny days, there is a perception that they are lazy.
“We need government support so we can convey our messages where they are needed in different languages. but we are not getting support from the government,” he said.
He said the NGO was scheduled to raise awareness about albinism in communities and at malls, clinics, schools and workplaces.
Zama Shozi, marketing and communications director for the foundation, said the campaign was aimed at shifting attitudes towards people with albinism.
“We give counselling to parents who have given birth to babies with albinism and tell them that the babies have special needs. We educate teachers about how to look after kids with the condition,” she said.
Traditional healer Nosipho Galawe criticised healers who use body parts of people with albinism to heal their patients. Galawe said: “I don’t use body parts to heal my patients because my trainer taught me to use herbs, roots and water to heal sick people. He never taught me to use body parts as a traditional medicine. I don’t kill people for their body parts.” She also condemned people who discriminated against those with albinism, lesbians and gays.
“I support gays and lesbians because they are also human. I want to shoot a video in which I do a traditional dance with a person with albinism,” said Galawe, drawing applause from the audience.