People with albinism are at risk of isolation because the condition is misunderstood, says Kwame Andrews Daklo, a social worker living with albinism.
Whilst many cultures believe that people who are melanin deficient have magical powers, the social worker has discredited that.
Presenting the facts about his genetic condition, he told GhanaWeb that “people believe that persons living with albinism do not die, but that is wrong. It is a mere fallacy. We die natural deaths too”.
“The truth is that witch doctors have made people believe that using persons with albinism for rituals bring a lot of wealth and fortune. So most of the time, they secretly kill us and when people do not get to see us again, they conclude that we vanish and not die”.
Kwame also questioned why there appears to be a popular perception that persons with albinism do not defecate on Fridays.
“As a normal human being, do we have control over our bowels? We don’t. We defecate every other day just like any other person”.
He also dispelled the myth that being sexually involved with a person living with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS.
“Rape of women with albinism is often thought to cure infertility and AIDS. But that is false. We do not have any magical powers that cure diseases. People infected with sexually transmitted diseases end up passing on their status to our women when they sleep with them,” Kwame said.
He, therefore, urged the general public to do away with the myths and embrace persons with albinism.
