Fides Media Living the Faith
By Cynthia Igbokwe
In a bid to end violence and discrimination against people with albinism the United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution recommending June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day.
To mark the day, the Senior Special Assistant to the Anambra State Governor on Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon Chidimma Oramali, in collaboration with Samora Outreach, organized a stakeholders’ lunch, June 13, at De Destination Event Centre, Awka.
It drew stakeholders from different spheres of life to discuss how best to accommodate and give a sense of belonging to people living with albinism.
In a keynote address presented by Hon Oramali, she said the programme was an interactive session geared towards educating stakeholders on what albinism was all about.
‘Albinos should not be discriminated against; albinism is not a curse, it is a genetic condition. That we lack melanin in our body does not make us less human. Albinos are super intelligent human beings,’ she explained.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, described people living with albinism as among the smartest and intelligent people.
Adinuba, who represented the Anambra State Governor, assured that government would keep supporting and uplifting issues dealing with people with Albinism; urging the stakeholders to take the message to the grassroots.
Contributing, the representative of Commissioner for health, Dr Jude Nguzoro, having talked about optical challenges faced by people living with albinism, urged the Anambra State Government to subsidize optical lenses or give them freely.
Stakeholders represented included, community leaders; Tricycle Riders Union; teachers; lawyers; civil society organizations; the media and others.