IN CELEBRATION of the coming albinism awareness month, the local Anglican Church came together with the KZN Albinism Society to hold an awareness march.
Members of the church made their way to the local police station with a memorandum surrounding issues that people afflicted with albinism are faced with and how they are victimised in many aspects of life.
According to the Chairman of the KZN Albinism Society Mr Bhekisisa Thabede, the movement is part of the Albinism Visibility Program. A program that was started in order to help community members better understand how they can deal with and help make the lives of those affected with albinism easier.
“It is important for members of the public to understand matters pertaining to albinism as it can occur to anyone. You could marry someone with albinism, or have a child with albinism or be affected by it in any other way and it is thus important that you are aware of the fact that these are people too. The only difference being that we have this congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes,” he said.
Among the points that were raised in the memorandum was the importance of treating people with albinism with equality.
“We are doctors, nurses and officers too,” members of the church sang in front of the police station.
Issues such as the killing of people with albinism with the malicious intent to use their parts in traditional medicine was also raised were also raised.
The march was also in memory of Thandazile Mpunza a twenty-year-old albino woman who was murdered in the Mhlabuyalingana area in August last year.
It is believed that the young woman was killed and dismembered by four men who were arrested later that same year.
The SAPS’ Col. James Luvuno received the memorandum and said that the police would do all they can to ensure that those guilty of victimising people with albinism were brought to book.
“These are our brothers and sisters and we will leave no stone unturned when looking for those guilty of hurting people with albinism in any way,” said Col. Luvuno.
With September being Albinism Awareness month, the society is hoping to bring more attention to the plight of those living with albinism in different communities.
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