ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 321 - 01/04/1997

Malawi

Albinos plead for attention and sensitivity

by Patrick Mawaya, Malawi, January 1997

THEME = MINORITIES

INTRODUCTION

Albinos in Malawi have formed an Association in the hope that their plight will become a sensitive issue at policy-making level

Hundreds of kilometres and different geographical realities, historical experiences, customs, traditions and languages separate them, but the estimated 8,000 albinos in Malawi face common problems.
Problems range from prone to skin cancer, segregation in schools, at work, sight problems, difficulties in participating at public functions and the lack of any policy concerning their situation.
Robert Kafera is Chairman of the Albinos Association of Malawi. He said: "We albinos are discriminated against. Teachers and pupils do not want to share school material with us. They say we are dull. We are prone to skin cancer, that could happen to any person. Our eye-sight is weak".

Albinos Association of Malawi

Albinos formed their Association in January 1995 in order to promote their rights through education. The Association has 700 registered members. However, estimates put the number of Albinos at about 8,000 (Malawi's population is 11 million).
In August 1995, members of the Association met President Bakili Muluzi at his Sanjika residence. Among issues discussed with the President were the need to train staff in the Skin Departments of the major hospitals in the country, to look after and educate people like albinos.
President Muluzi promised the Association that his government would provide reading glasses and make schools accessible to albinos. He also donated US$ 2,000 to the Association.
This last-mentioned gesture is always made by the President, whenever a group visits him - the argument being - that during former President Banda's time, people were forced to give gifts to the President. Now it is the President who makes gifts. However the President's critics are quick to say: "Muluzi is the only President who moves about with a sack of money on platforms".
One year after Muluzi promised to deliver reading glasses to the albinos, the glasses have yet to arrive. The Albinos Association of Malawi is now wondering if the government is really interested in albinos. Robert Kafera says: "We are aware that there is no clear policy on albinos. And this shows that the government is not interested in the deaf, the dumb and the blind".
The Association has therefore called on the government to come up with a policy that will cater for all disabilities, and improve education and health services for albinos. Regarding education, the highest qualification attained by albinos is the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and only one hundred albinos have attained MSCE level.
Most albinos come from poor social backgrounds, so the Association has called on the government to train people who will be able to handle slow learners in class.
Will President Muluzi be able to "deliver the goods"? He's already facing complex problems concerning free Primary Education which was introduced in 1994!

END

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE

PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement