Sierra Leone: Albinos are vulnerable set of people in society that need utmost attention from the Government and its partners. But in actual fact little or no attention is being paid to them by successive governments, not alone in Sierra Leone but Africa as a Continent.
In some countries, they are even being hunted for rituals, which makes their situation more worse, taking into effect their disability condition as well. Persons with albinism in Sierra Leone are victims of marginalization, discrimination and stigmatization which makes them vulnerable to violent attacks. They also face socioeconomic challenges which negatively contribute to their overall situation. Persons with albinism in the country have difficulties claiming their rights due to the false myths and perceptions about their condition.
Despite they fall under the category of disable, due to their poor eye sight and porous skin resistance, yet they are being treated as outcasts and not fit for purpose, which in it actual fact is also a human right violation in itself.
As the coronavirus landed in Sierra Leone in March 2020, it brought more woes for the Albino community, not only of discrimination, but also to attain basic needs of life, including food, shelter and medications.
34 years old Albino, Mabinty Sesay told Awoko that since the outbreak of the virus in the country some 15 months ago, life has been tough and difficult for them as a community. Aside from the discrimination which she pointed out is a key problem of their suffering, she also stressed on the lack of support on the side of the government to provide and care for them the way they do for other disabled in the country. “From what I have learned they aren’t seeing us as disabled, which is a pity to the government. We are very vulnerable but authorities concerned aren’t treating our plights with the seriousness it deserves.
Sesay said during the first three day lock down to tackle the spread of the virus in the country, she didn’t receive any package from the government or non governmental organization as support to cushion the effect of the virus. But to her surprise government and its partners provided aid to other set of disabled including polio and the visually impaired, amongst others, leaving them out.
Aminata Kamara is a seven months old Albino lactating mother, who became pregnant during the peak of the coronavirus in the country. She said life was tough for them as a family, as her husband is a bar owner in the central business district. “Business went bad for us due to the restrictions imposed by government. We used to sell over a million or two a day, but as a result of the coronavirus we even struggled to pay our shop rent or sometime raise money for food. Business became stagnated and up to this moment we are suffering from the shock,” she noted.
Madam Kamara also confirmed that she did not receive anything as support from the government, and spent a huge amount of money on hospital bills during her pregnancy in such a challenging period.
It is better late than never, she called on the Government to focus on Albino, people as they are faced with numerous challenges in their lives, and the coronavirus is a clear testament of such suffering.
One of the biggest concerns for persons with albinism in Sierra Leone is their lack of access to sun protection, health care and low-vision devices, for such reasons, skin cancer is very common within the albinism community and they were affected also during the pandemic.
According to other sources there is a lack of effective policies to address the socioeconomic problems that persons with albinism face in Sierra Leone. It is reported that the ministry for social welfare did not take into cognisance the situation of persons with albinism in their Disability Act policy of 2011.
*This story was put together with the support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) human rights fellowship
By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
MJB/21/06/2021