Albinism day which is usually celebrated every year on 13th June is majorly observed to represent the celebration of the human rights of people with albinism and to raise awareness for their health condition.
The United Nations Human Rights Council took the initiative on December 18, 2014, to prevent the attacks and discrimination against people with albinism, and for this purpose, the Council decided to observe the International Albinism Awareness Day every year on June 13.
The theme for 2022 was “United in making our voice heard”. It celebrates the effort to amplify the voices working for albinism and highlights the work done so far for the people with albinism.
Rosemary Amiri who is the officer in charge of albinism organisation in Bungoma has outlined some of the major challenges that are faced by people living with this type of disability. She said that its saddening to see some communities hold to the belief that some albino’s body parts can be used as medicine since this is a big threat to their lives and some people are involved in this kind of business.
She has also said that some communities still hold the belief that a woman who gives birth to this kind of children are usually said to have been unfaithful to their spouses therefore their kids can either be killed or hidden which means the child might not be taken to school or might even lack some essentials that are normally entitled to children, she has advised parents with this type of kids to embrace them and shun away from such beliefs.
To add on that, she also mentioned that people living with this kind of disability cannot withstand harsh weather conditions especially the hot sun since the rays from the sun can cause skin cancer but if they live in places where the people in their surroundings do not have this knowledge they usually experience lots of challenge because they cannot be involved in daily duties.
However, Rosemary has also thanked the national government for the advancements that have been made. She says that the national council issues sunscreen lotions that protects the albinos from sun rays and apart from that they also have projects that support the albinos by paying their school fees as well as empowering them economically by coming up with projects that help them generate income.
She also added that the albinos are given tools of trade such as hairdressing, carpentry sewing machines among others that help them meet their daily needs and also the organization has got a job portal which helps graduates by linking them to jobs in their different fields of training.
Rosemary has also thanked the national government for the 5% employment of the people living with disability and has also urged private companies and organizations to embrace this idea for there is benefit whereby they get a tax exemption from the government and also said that just like other people the albinos are committed and productive in their service delivery.
On the other hand, the officer called upon parents who are living with this kind of children to come out and look for help and condemned those who despise people with disabilities or even tend to take advantage of them.
She said that parents who need help can either go to the social development offices which are found in ever county or can even conduct their area chiefs and to those within Bungoma can visit their offices.
By Ebby Tsuma