International Albinism Awareness Day was celebrated in Kinshasa, at the initiative of the NGO IPAS and in collaboration with the Mwimba Texas Foundation. Beyond the celebration, this meeting made it possible to discuss the disease, but also the sexual and reproductive health rights of albino women. IPAS estimates that for sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is more prevalent, the figures range between one in 5,000 and one in 15,000 cases. Sexual and reproductive health and rights issues particularly affect albino women.
The challenge of this day was therefore to sensitize these people to self-acceptance, because this determines their development in society. Albino women are often victims of rape and sexual abuse, which leads them to become mothers. They often find themselves confronted with material and educational difficulties, coupled with discrimination. Thus, the Maputo Protocol and access to safe abortion care were presented, in order to offer them options in sexual and reproductive health.
In this context, the family plays a crucial role in fostering the development of people with albinism. Marie-Thérèse Matayo, albino woman present at the meeting and president of the NGO “Un pas ensemble”, underlined the importance of equal treatment between children, albinos or not. She thus encouraged parents to be proud of having special children and to love them without distinction. She made a point of recalling that the family is the first place that welcomes albino children and provides them with the care they need. For her, the idea is to allow people with albinism to express themselves and get their message across to society.
Testimonies were collected during the event: some parents accepted their albino child from birth and integrated him into their family without distinction, others were forced to separate because of discrimination and pressure. Albino children were also able to express themselves and highlighted the importance of feeling included in society, not feeling isolated and being treated like any other human being. Exchanges rich in emotions, which make it possible to raise awareness among the general public and to continue the fight against discrimination and inequalities.
This International Albinism Awareness Day is an opportunity to remember that it is time to break taboos and stereotypes related to this disease. Persons with albinism have rights, particularly with regard to their sexual and reproductive health, their education and their place in society. It is essential to hear them and accept them to build a fairer and more equitable society.