It all began at the rural clinic where she gave birth. The nursing staff gave her no advice about how to care for the specific needs of her babies. She received no counselling and as a result of the poor care she received, her children were sunburnt and suffered blistering on their skin.
Primitive beliefs
“Land lords would not accommodate my family because of my children’s skin pigmentation. I moved house every month and land lords connived with each other to deny me lodging,” said Munyoro in her presentation at a stakeholder meeting on people living with albinism held in Harare on June 12, 2013.
Munyoro said it was disheartening to learn that some men divorced women who gave birth to babies with albinism. There is a primitive belief among some communities that albinism is a result of infidelity on the part of the wife. Stigmatisation of children is more pronounced at health centres and in schools.
Despite albinism being a skin condition caused by lack of a biological dye in the skin and eyes, some children, teachers and medical staff regard it as a contagious disease. This results in children being shunned by their peers and tutors.
“Teachers ignorant of the needs of children living with albinism would make life difficult for the children in class. For example, poor eyesight is another thing associated with albinism, which makes it difficult for children affected to read writing on a blackboard,” said Munyoro.
The Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Henry Madzorera, demystified albinism as a non-contagious, genetic condition.
A national issue
Acting Chairperson for the Zimbabwe Albino Association, Richard Nyathi, said: “Problems faced by people living with albinism are national issues which the government should make an effort to address. Public ignorance on albinism results in stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with albinism.”
He said some health centres did not understand the medical needs of people living with albinism. Zimbabwe has an estimated 17,000 people living with albinism, according to ZIMAS database.
A lecturer at Great Zimbabwe living with albinism, Farai Maunganidze, said it was difficult to penetrate social circles for people in his situation due to the high levels of stigmatisation.
Medical experts and ZIMAS have called on the government to allow children living with albinism extra time in examinations. Minister of Education, Art, Sport and Culture, David Coltart, promised to look into the request and do everything possible to make life easier for children living with albinism.
The right to education
“As minister for education, I will facilitate the making of educational institutions adaptable to special needs of children living with albinism and other forms of disabilities,” said Coltart.
Coltart said the Zimbabwe Education Act of 2000 provided for the rights of all children to education despite their various physical and mental challenges.
However, he said as much as his ministry would have loved to provide for children living with disabilities, under funding by treasury remained the major frustrating factor in this regard.
Post published in: News