Challenges of Malawians with Albinism to be Addressed in the Launched Two-Year Campaign

“People with albinism face a lot of challenges when it comes to accessing health services in district hospitals,” Chibwana decried and added, “The campaign would sensitize medical personnel for them to ably handle people with albinism with care.”

The two-year campaign, expected to conclude on October 30, 2021 will see participants engage in monitoring the “provision of sun screen lotion in the hospitals to be given to patients.” 

According to a 2018 Amnesty International report on albinism in Malawi, “Since November 2014, the number of reported cases against people with albinism has risen to 148 cases, including 14 murders and seven attempted murders.” 

Citing the Malawi Police Service and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Amnesty International report further indicates that “Only 30 percent of the 148 reported cases against people with albinism (had) been concluded” and that at the time, “only one murder and one attempted murder cases (had) been successfully prosecuted.”

When there are abductions and killings, Chibwana told ACI Africa, “cases take ages in the courts of law before they are concluded and we would want to have speedy prosecution on albinism cases and lobby for stiffer punishment on them through this campaign.”

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To help resolve the challenge of protracted legal processes and the backlog of cases as well as prevent abductions, the CCJP Coordinator noted that the launched countrywide campaign “will also engage government officials at national level to lobby for policies that would bring tight security to people with albinism.”

“As a Church we believe in the sanctity of life and that all human beings should be protected so the campaign will exactly endeavor to do that,” Chibwana emphasized.

Asked what concrete measures have been taken by local churches to reach out to people living with albinism, Chibwana said, “The diocese of Zomba pays school fees for a lot of girls and boys with albinism in primary and secondary schools.”

While hoping for great collaboration with relevant stakeholders, Chibwana expressed the belief that “it is possible to win the battle that people with albinism face.”

He said, “Human rights issues are not negotiable and it is not a privilege for people with albinism to enjoy human rights fundamentals.”

“It is the responsibility of everyone to enhance human rights fundamentals,” Chibwana said and concluded, “The challenges that people with albinism in Malawi face can be eradicated if the values of human dignity and sanctity of life permeates in the fabric of society.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.