Mutilations and Killings
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN
Miriamu, a soft spoken 28 year old single mother from rural Tanzania was viciously attacked and both arms were hacked off. It took 6 hours for her to get medical help. Miraculously, she survived.
Kabula, age 13, survived a brutal machete attack in April 2010. Her entire right arm was hacked off.
Another disturbing development affecting women and girls with albinism is the myth spreading that sex with an albino female can cure Aids. Women and girls are raped by men carrying the Aids virus. This outrage not only violates women and young girls but spreads the Aids virus in epidemic proportions.
Children with albinism are at risk from birth. Powerful superstitions and tribal traditions threaten their lives, most often at the hands of their relatives. Poisoning, neglect and starvation ends their young lives, even in death they are not safe from body snatchers.
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN
Children and young adults with albinism experience horrific suffering and neglect in Tanzanian public boarding schools. In October 2011, information about the spreading skin cancer among the students at the Buhangjia Boarding School in the Shinyanga Region resulted in the comment by the Head Master: “It is the children’s fault that they have skin cancer.” When death occurs as a result of this preventable disease, the reaction even from doctors is: “This is how these people are.” With adequate sun screen protection, sunglasses, wide brimmed hats and long sleeved clothing, most persons with albinism can avoid skin cancer.