ALBINISM NOT A CURSE
THE barbaric attack on a seven-year-old girl living with albinism in Kitwe, has signalled a rise in the belief that body parts of the victims can be used for magical or medicinal purposes.
This is utterly erroneous!
As such, Zambians must rise up in large numbers and mount a massive publicity campaign against such weird and diabolic beliefs.
People living with albinism are no different from humans who do not have this condition.
Simply put, albinism is a congenital disorder in humans characterised by complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes.
Medical journals and other literature on albinism are very much available for anyone to peruse.
But the basics are that albinism is an inherited disorder that is present at birth and secondly, children are at risk of being born with albinism if parents have elements of albinism, or if their parents carry the gene for albinism.
How then should anyone dream that body parts of people living with albinism can bring riches, success, power or sexual conquest!
In any case, albinism is simply a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair and surely does this guarantee any mystical powers?
Yes, an education campaign against such beliefs can help raise awareness in Zambia and beyond the frontiers.
This is an international problem which is prevalent in Tanzania, Malawi and other neighbouring countries.
Thus Zambia must join voices across Africa and beyond to stop discrimination and attacks on people living with albinism.
This matter has already attracted the attention of the United Nations (UN) which has expressed concern about attacks and the widespread discrimination, stigma and social exclusion people living with albinism suffer.
Through the Human Rights Council, the UN observes that the erroneous beliefs and myths are centuries old and are present in cultural attitudes and practices around the world.
Therefore, in Zambia and many other countries, the erroneous beliefs which are hugely influenced by superstition, put the security and lives of persons with albinism at constant risk.
This is a true reflection as evidenced by the barbaric attack on the Kitwe girl whose hand the misfits chopped as her parents screamed helplessly under the cover of the night.
It appears such attacks are permeating the borders; meaning foreigners could have invaded Zambia to prey on people living with albinism.
People living with albinism are forced to remain indoors not only to protect their eyes and skin from the sunshine, but also to avoid being captured by blood-thirsty wolves.
The Zambia police must relentlessly pursue these barbaric creatures and hunt them down before they pounce on more innocent citizens.
Such rituals are also being initiated by witchdoctors who are advising gullible people living with HIV/AIDS to have forceful sex with an albino as a way of eliminating the virus.
People living with albinism need care and love and should not be killed at all.
A number of them, especially the vulnerable, need information about their condition and how they can improve their livelihood.
Yes, they need assistance such as provision of appropriate clothing and sunscreens to protect their bodies.
Some of them come from vulnerable families and are withdrawn in nature. They need help and not harassment!