The President of  the Association of The Gambia Albinism (AGA), Mr. Gibairu Janneh has said that the misconception of societies on persons with Albinism led to the killings of Albinos for spiritual purposes in certain parts of Africa. The event was held at Paradise Hotel in Senegambia. 

Mr Janneh made this statement on Saturday 26 June 2021 while commemorating the International Albinism Day. He said the day is meant to reflect on both the challenges and successes of persons with Albinism. Gibairu Janneh said this year’s celebration focuses on creating awareness to the misconception that people have on persona with Albinism.

The event was attended by members of the AGA, representatives from the civil society organizations, human rights activist groups, partners and donors. This year’s celebration theme is: “Strength Behind All Odds.”

Mr. Janneh stated that in some parts of Africa, especially the Eastern,  persons  with Albinism are being hunted and killed for sacrifice. “This is a serious misconception,” he said.

He highlighted the challenges that persons with Albinism face  such as; challenge to vision, skin care, society conception.

Mr. Janneh said persons with Albinism lack melanin in their skin which puts them at the risk of skin cancer. “All this challenges resolved around discrimination,” Gibairu Janneh said. He expressed dissatisfaction with the society for calling persons with Albinism different names in this country.

He added that the discrimination that person with Albinism face in the country has to stop and the spiritual believe that is leading to the killings of persons with Albinism need to stop immediately.

In schools, he said, persons with Albinism are not given the required tools to participate in the learning process, he recalled back in school days.Mr. Janneh added that persons with Albinism are exposed to the sunlight which affects their eyesight.

However, he said society holds so many misconceptions about what Albinism is. “While we are trying to address some of these challenges, we realize that it is due to ignorance,” Gibairu Janneh said.

He further said some of the major challenges that a person with Albinism faces nowadays is the misconceptions that lead to the killings of Albinism for spiritual purposes.

Dawda Kaira a senior member of the Albinism advocacy group said, Albinism is nothing but the reduction or the absence of the melanin in the skin. Mr. Kaira said Albinism knows no race or religion and it does not recognize the rich or poor. “Albinism is something that people don’t have control over,” Dawda Kaira said.

He said Albinism is not as a result of anybody’s mistake like many believe, he stated. He further urged people to help and protect the rights of persons with Albinism.

Apart from the natural challenges a person with Albinism face, Mr. Kaira pointed out some of the belief in society that some part of an Albino body can be a source of good luck, he explained.

Giving examples; he said, fishermen will have their net woven with Albinism hair with the belief that they will catch more fish, he noted.

Muhammed Kurubally, chairman of the Federation of The Gambia Disable said, people need to stand and support persons with Albinism. “We need to put our differences aside and help each other,” Muhammed Kurubally expressed.

He said, the misconceptions about Albinism is a serious concern and it has led to many challenges for persons with Albinism. He explained that on December 18, 2014 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a revolution for every year 13 June to be recognized for persons with Albinism, he stated.

Mr. Kurubally said the day is set aside for people to discuss the fundamental rights, issues, challenges and to speak against discrimination to person with Albinism.  He further said the day will also help people to create more awareness to the misconceptions and to stop the superstition people hold about persons with Albinism, he ended.

 

By Dawda Baldeh