Let’s be sensitive to people with albinism

EDITOR — For some time, I have noticed that albinos have faced numerous challenges on top of it, stigma, discrimination and failure to afford their basic needs.

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition that develops when both parents have copies of an abnormal gene, resulting in the body not generating melanin to darken the skin.

The lack of this pigment results in the person having very pale skin, white or sand-coloured hair, and light brown or blue eyes.

People with albinism may also have impaired vision, be sensitive to bright light, squint, be near-sighted and sometimes involuntarily roll their eyeballs from side to side.

The main challenge for people with albinism is that most cannot afford sunscreen lotions, spectacles and other basic needs. I, therefore, appeal to Government to also subsidise their essential items like sunscreen lotions in the next national budget.

In addition Government can help by passing laws that will forbid discrimination and marginalisation of albinos in societies and encourage integration of people of different colours. Society also needs to be sensitive to the needs of albinos and help them. The help can be in form of moral support or material things to make their lives worthwhile.

Albinism is not a curse or bad luck, so let’s not believe the myths about the condition.