About 175 Albinos in Abia State have cried out against discriminations being meted out to them, saying “we are humans.”
The Albinos, under the aegis of Albino Foundation, Abia State chapter, said their members were not getting fair deals either from government or the society.
According to them, they were facing various challenges, including unemployment, lack of empowerment, health conditions arising from exposure to sun and social exclusion.
Coordinator of the Albino Foundation, Abia State Chapter, Ugonwa Okeke, who spoke on behalf of the group in Umuahia Thursday, said her members were human and deserved greater attention and care from all.
The group was on advocacy visit to the Press Centre of Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Aba Road to sensitize the public on this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day celebration slated for Saturday, June 13, 2020.
June 13 every year is set aside annually by the United Nations to draw global attention to the plight of persons with albinism. It was initially declared in 2015 as a result of widespread discrimination, stigmatization, dehumanization and killings of persons with albinism around the world, especially Africa.
Okeke said it was disheartening that Albinos acquire education with great difficulty and end up not getting employment or being empowered. She said that among her members, only very few were employed by government.
Okeke, a staff of the Primary Healthcare Department of Aba South Local Government Area, equally decried discrimination against Albinos in their work places.
For instance, she lamented that since she was employed over a decade ago by Aba South Council, she has never been exposed to any form of training or workshop, something, she alleged, were being enjoyed by her colleagues very often.
“I always use myself as an example when it comes to discrimination against Albinos. I am working in Aba South Local Government Area. Since I was employed there, they have never sent me to go for a workshop or training, even if it is internal.
“They have a platform and my name is excluded. When they have training, they will send text messages to those in the platform and they will come for the training without my knowledge.
“Unless if I come to work and run into them, that is how I will get to know and I will force myself into the training because knowledge is power,” she narrated.
The Abia Albinos leader noted that the society does not treat Albinos any better because no one looks their way when it comes to marriage.
“Albinos don’t easily get married because of the ignorance of our people. Many people castigate anyone who indicates interest in marrying an Albino, whether male or female,” she said.
While appealing for a change of attitude by the society and government towards Albinos, Okeke said: “I want you people (journalists) to intimate the public that Albinos are humans.”
She called on the state government to consider Albinos with requisite educational qualifications and skills for employment and empowerment.”
Similarly, she advised her members not to be deterred by their ugly experiences but should rather come out boldly and strive to achieve their life ambitions.
In his contribution, Secretary of Abia Albino Foundation, Bright Sunday Nze, called for social inclusion of Albinos in the state, saying that they have been relegated to the background.
According to Nze, little attention was being given to conditions of people with Albinism in Abia, noting that lack of adequate representation has made it difficult to reach their members in all the 17 local governments of the state.
Also contributing, another member, Chukwuemeka Famous, appealed to government to show greater concern for the health of Albinos who, he said, were prone to skin cancer.
Chukwuemeka appealed to government to ensure that Albinos should not be deployed to areas where provide low vision aids (glasses) for those who can’t afford it.
A statement by the Chief Executive Officer/Founder of Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle, and Okeke explained that this year’s Albinism Awareness Day would marked from Thursday, June 11 to Saturday, June 13, with events such as Media engagement, Virtual Workshop and launch of the “Ivory Aid Ball” for skin cancer trust fund, among others.
PHOTO: Abia State Coordinator, Albino Foundation, Ugonwa L. Okeke (Middle) flanked by the Umuahia Coordinator, Blessing Mbagwu (R) and Chukwuemeka Famous (L)