By Emelda Odor
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Poor sight, colour pigmentation, skin cancer and stigmatization have been described as most challenges faced by Albinos in Nigeria.
The State Co-ordinator of the Albino Foundation Kaduna State Chapter, Abubabar Adam disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna Friday, at commemoration of National Albinism Day being celebrated fifth of May every year.
He explained that they are also using the Albinism Day to create awareness that every human being created by God is equal just as the albinos across the world should be regarded as such.
“Today being marked as Albinism Day, we are creating awareness and embarked on advocacy that every human being created by God is equal. We want albinos all over the world to be regarded as the same as other races”. He added.
The State Co-ordinator stressed that the public should not discriminate against them, but embrace them.
When asked if albinos are used for money making as being rumoured in most African Countries, Adam opined that the rumour is not true, adding albinos body are the same as every human but the difference is their colouration.
According to him, the rumours are mostly in Malaysia and Tanzania where the ritual killing is pronounced, but the United Nation has directed that efforts should be made by Governments to stop the malicious act against the albinos.
“This is a lie, it is not true. Albinos are the same thing as other human beings, the only different is colouration. If anybody or any ritualists that said he is using any party of albinos as something that will give him money and power, is a liar”. He concluded.
The State Co-ordinator called on Government at all levels and wealthy individuals to empower the albinos by way of employment and train them in various skill to alleviate their suffering.
He noted that there is a cream lotion that assists the albinos to reduce the density of the sun on the skin, but due to the high cost of the cream, the albinos cannot afford it.
Adam therefore called for Government intervention for the lotion to be subsidised.
A participant, Vivian Ngoka said albinos do not eat paper and salty food and prefer cold weather rather to hot, because hot weather makes them sweat with discomfort causing high risk of cancer.
