15 Jun 2022

 People Living with Albinism have been hailed for overcoming numerous  challenges in their daily lives.

Speaking during International Albinism Awareness Day commemoration in Gaborone Monday, Princess Marina Hospital superintendent, Dr Monkgogi Goepamang said they had especially shown strength in confronting health challenges, particularly skin cancer and poor vision. In addition, he said they had risen above stigmatisation and unfair stereotypes.

  “You have defied cultural myths and practices and come out stronger,” he said and commended them for their perseverance.

Dr Goepemang applauded government for defending the inherent value of People Living with Albinism saying Botswana had fought to uphold human rights by promoting a culture of respect for the immutable worth and potential of each human being.

For many years, he said, the Ministry of Health offered People Living with Albinism health care services free of charge in both public facilities and those run by Non-Governmental Organisations.

Dr Goepamang said Princess Marina Hospital Dermatology Clinic had strengthened its albinism care programme which enabled patients to get regular skin checks and free sunscreen with a sun protective factor of 50+ as well as early diagnosis and management of precancerous and skin cancer lesions.

He revealed that the clinic had since embarked on outreach campaigns in far and hard to reach areas. People Living with Albinism were encouraged to utilise the services provided.

For her part, Tshimologo Association for the Albinism Community chairperson, Ms Ofentse Serurubele called for more partnerships to assist government in providing services to those with the condition.

Ms Serurubele said funding albinism community projects continued to be a challenge.

“In education, we are still crying foul as the albinism community, about accessibility of training aids in classes from kindergarten to university level, free spectacles for learners to reduce blindness on persons with albinism,” she said.

She announced the organisation’s plans to establish a farm for the production of aloe vera and other plants.

The farm would enable the community to manufacture sunscreen and create job opportunities for members, she said.

“We need strong partnerships with researchers and scientists to bring this dream to life, and this can only happen if our sponsors put heads together to assist in securing land,” stated Ms Serurubele.

Regarding employment, she said it had been rare to see persons with albinism holding jobs, especially in the private sector.

She hailed Debswana for having employed five persons with albinism from 2020 to date.

Ms Serurubele pleaded for more employment opportunities with Botswana Police, Botswana Prisons and Botswana Defence Force and Air Botswana to close the stigma and discrimination gap. 

She called for a paradigm shift with regard to the way people viewed persons with albinism. 

Ms Serurubele said the day’s theme, United in making our voice heard, called for inclusive attention and equality for people with albinism in all aspects of life.

The day was meant to celebrate groups and individuals who worked at enhancing the visibility of persons with albinism in all spheres of life as well as to encourage and celebrate unity among albino communities, she said.

Ms Serurubele said it was a day for People Living with Albinism to meet and mingle and to reflect, celebrate and share their stories.

It was also meant to sensitize and educate people on albinism as well as to highlight the work being done by albino groups around the country, she said. BOPA