ALBINISM,,, THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW : THEY ARE LIKE YOU AND I

Today I have learned something
interesting that I would love to
share... You may know,you may not know and some information will be shockin!!
It 's about :ALBINISM' and it's
time for me to teach you ...

ALBINISM

Albinism is a congenital
disorder characterized by the
complete or partial absence of
pigment in the skin, hair and eyes
due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of
melanin.
Albinism results from inheritance
of recessive gene alleles and is known
to affect all vertebrates, including
humans. While an organism with
complete absence of melanin is
called an albino an organism with only a diminished amount of melanin is described as albinoid .
Albinism is associated with a
number of vision defects, such as
photophobia, Nystagmus and
astigmatism. Lack of skin
pigmentation makes the organism more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers.
People with albinism have been
‘shunned , ridiculed, tormented,
tortured and killed in cold blood’ all
over Africa, simply 'on account of the
skin colour.
The biggest threat to persons with albinism, is misleading and negative
belief systems about the condition’.
And when ‘these negative beliefs
combine with illiteracy and limited
knowledge and facts about the
situation, the net results 'are'
calamitous. ’
The utmost threat to people with
albinism in most of Africa is misleading and negative belief systems about the condition. When these negative beliefs combine with illiteracy and limited knowledge and facts about the situation, the net result can be calamitous. Some people wrongly believe that those with albinism are a cursed lot. Some believe persons with albinism are terminally ill, weak, cannot hear, and/or are intellectually challenged.
In some cultures, like the Maasai, the ‘albino’ child was traditionally
abandoned and left for dead in the
wilderness, or left at the doorstep to
be trampled upon by cattle because
of the attitude that the child who
cannot see well cannot take care of
cattle or do other communal chores
and is therefore useless.
Many are people who are convinced that persons with albinism are sterile or barren, that they are immortal, that they are mentally handicapped, or that they can cure HIV/ AIDS! Others think that acquiring some body parts of those with albinisms brings good luck and instant riches.’ Now that speaks
volumes in a continent where majority
are poor and many keep praying for
good luck to join the ranks of the rich
and powerful!
There is also a gender angle to this
issue. Mothers of children with
albinism are the primary victims from
the misconception that children with
albinism are born out of illicit affairs
with white men. It is also very
common for the mothers to be
singularly blamed for the genetic
mutation; many women are disowned
by their husband and even banished
from their communities. Such
misplaced family or community
tensions do not help matters for
children with albinism.
Organizations have been set up to help albinos,such as Albinism Society of Kenya whose motto is being ‘Don’t stare, just ask,' .Education on what albinism is,is the first step to the end of stigmatization and myths.
Say No to iliteracy on Albinism, they are like YOU AND ME!!!!