Engage Now Africa (ENA), an international non-governmental humanitarian organization is embarking on a campaign to clear ill conceptions about albinism.
After rolling out programmes to heal, save and support the under-privileged in society, the organization has added albinism sensitization as one of their new initiatives.
In an interview with Jessica Opare-Saforo on Citi 97.3 FM on Monday, representatives from ENA, Helina Fenuku and Kwame Daklo talked about the support they were giving to people with albinism.
[contextly_sidebar id=”VOMgCeygBoacj1vhlCjEUGYybg1LXh9m”]“We go into those communities where myths about albinism are generated to educate the people on albinism. We use ourselves as examples in the education process and at least it is helping to clear some misconceptions about us,” they said.
They also touched on how society stigmatizes people living with albinism and the need to change the narrative.
They stated that they have always suffered rejection and discrimination from people in school, at work and in the community at large.
The condition has also affected relationships with their loved ones.
Kwame dispelled the perception that if one marries someone with albinism, their children will be albinos too.
“It is not true that if you marry an albino you will give birth to one. That is not true,” he said.
About albinism
Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and/or eyes.
Albinism occurs in all racial and ethnic groups throughout the world. In the U.S., approximately one in 18,000 to 20,000 people has some type of albinism.
In other parts of the world, the occurrence can be as high as one in 3,000. Most children with albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds.
A common myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. Although lighting conditions can allow the blood vessels at the back of the eye to be seen, which can cause the eyes to look reddish or violet, most people with albinism have blue eyes, and some have hazel or brown eyes.
There are different types of albinism and the amount of pigment in the eyes varies; however, vision problems are associated with albinism.
People with albinism in Ghana will observe the International Albinism Awareness Day on 13th June, 2018 at the Radach Hotel in Tamale.
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By: Kwame Dadzie/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
