Albinism: Challenging but can’t limit success, say albinos

It is an undeniable fact that children are special gifts from God. Whether black or white, albino or non-albino, all of them are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Unfortunately, some societies, especially in Africa, discriminate against albinos on account of their colour. Some are even killed for ritual purposes in some countries based on unfounded beliefs and misconceptions that their body parts could bring good luck and prosperity.

Albinism, according to experts, is a genetic deficiency of melanin pigment production in which the carrier, either a person or animal, possesses very white skin, white hair and pink eyes. Studies have shown that beside pigmentation, there is no difference between an albino and a non-albino.

In sub Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 1 in 5000 to 15000 could be affected, while in the Pacific region, the rate of people affected could be as high as 1 in 70 to 1 in 125. Sadly, the list of discrimination against albinos are endless, even in Nigeria as they are called all kinds of derogatory names based on myths . Hence, June 13, every year is marked as the International Albinism Awareness Day aimed at addressing the challenges faced by albinos all over the world.

But despite the degree of stigma and discrimination meted to them, however, there are people who believe that albinos can make it despite all odds – especially when they are loved and supported.

Mrs. Onome Okagbare Majaro, a graduate of mass communication from University of Lagos is one of those that did not allow albinism deny her of anything good in life.
Through the support of her mother, Mrs. Rita Okagbare, Onome who is co-founder of Onome

Akinolu Majaro (OAM) Foundation, rose above every stigma and discrimination to become a successful career woman.

Hence, she is calling on government at all levels through her Non-Governmental Origination (NGO), to end discrimination, stigma, intimidation, humiliation and attacks against albinos in Nigeria.

Narrating her experience to The Daily Times, Mrs Majaro acknowledged that living as a person with albinism is not easy. “I remember when I was growing up; there was a day I refused to go to a school party because I told my mum that everybody will keep looking at me as if I was from the moon. In the neighbourhood also, people call me all kinds of names because of my colour. I battled myths like in Yoruba, they say ‘Afin o kin je iyo’, which means albinos do not eat salt.

People looked at me and said I can never get married because of my colour and that if at all I would get married, I would be married to an albino, and so on.But with the help of my mother, I overcame those derogatory names as she was able to build confidence in me. After I got married and people saw my wedding photos on Facebook, they were surprised that an albino could get married to a non-albino.

They wanted to find out how I made it. So, in their curiosity and quest for knowledge about albinism, I decided to establish the foundation so as to raise awareness about it and to drum government’s support for albinos so that they can lead a fulfilled life.

While speaking at an event to mark this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day in Lagos organised by her foundation recently, Onome noted that the way and manner albinos are treated in the society was unfair and totally unacceptable. “Most times, we are greeted with rude remarks.

She therefore called on law-makers to enact a strict law that would thoroughly address all the challenges faced by albinos in Nigeria.For Mr. Maville Owuru who is happily married to non-albino, his schooling days were the most challenging.

His words:My parents are not albinos. We are six in the family and three are albinos. My schooling days was real challenging because of the way I was treated by my classmates. They called me names and some were not even ready to associate with me because of my colour. But I did not allow it to bother me; the major challenge for me as an albino is that of low vision.

I was always struggling in school to sit in front of the class as result of low vision. That is a major flaw with albinism. However, I did not allow that to distract my future ambition. Today, my provision business is doing well and I am happily married to a non-albino. My six months old daughter is not an albino and my wife loves me the way I am.

Owuru counselled that what the society is saying about albinism should not stop anyone from pursuing his or her life ambition, nor stop anyone from getting married.Mother of two albino children, Mrs Blessing Isaac also shared her experience with The Daily Times.

When I was pregnant, people said since my husband and I was fair in complexion, that we could give birth to children with albinism and I responded: God forbid! Surprisingly, when I gave birth to my first child who is now four years old, he turned out to be an albino. Well, I accepted and welcomed him because children are gifts from God.

But when I got home, I started covering him so that people will not see him because some people had started calling him derogatory names, even from the hospital while others were saying all sorts of things about him. Some were even questioning me on why I have to give birth to an albino, as if I am God that gives children.

As the insults continued, I continued to cover him the more. Later, I was cautioned to stop covering him. So, it was at that point that I decided to love him the way he is and ignored all that people were saying about him. Blessing said following her experience, when her second baby came with albinism, she was not bothered.

Today, my husband and I love them and we are proud of them – and they are doing what their peers are doing both in school and at home. Advising what steps should be taken to alleviate the sufferings of albinos in the country, director, United Nations Information Centre for Nigeria, Ronald Kayanja said we need effective protection for persons with albinism and members of their families.

Identifying skin cancer as the most serious health implications of albinism, the director stressed the Urgent need to conduct impartial, speedy and effective investigations into attacks against persons with albinism whenever they occur and immediate action should be taken against perpetrators of attacks against albinos nationwide.

Keyanja concluded with a clarion call for increased education and public awareness raising activities on albinism.