Beyond the skin initiative
It was all smiles at the launch of Zimplats’ “Beyond the skin” initiative in Manicaland in commemoration of International World Albinism Day held under the theme “United in making our voices heard.”
Rudairo Mapuranga
Zimplats together with Optinova, Lancet, Stanbic and Dicomm McCann made the launch of the “Beyond the Skin initiative” in Manicaland a success. At the launch, there were free eye tests, sunscreens, hats, and sunglasses shared with the community.
The country’s biggest platinum group of metals (PGM) producer Zimplats’ well-established community project on albinism seeks to address discrimination and encourage the acceptance and integration of people with albinism into mainstream society.
Over the past year, Zimplats has distributed more than 4 000 sunscreens and lip balms to communities in Harare, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West and Masvingo as part of the community albinism project.
Zimplats has been calling for the country to stand together and stop stigmatisation and discrimination against people with albinism.
“It’s time for us to stand together as a community and say no to stigmatisation and discrimination of people with albinism,” read Zimplats’ motto.
WHAT IS ALBINISM?
Albinism is a rare group of genetic disorders that causes the skin, hair, or eyes to have little or no colour. Albinism is also associated with vision problems. In so many African countries, people with albinism are misunderstood and mistreated because of their skin colour.
CAUSES
- – A defect in one of several genes that produce or distribute melanin.
- – The defect may result in the absence of melanin production, or a reduced amount of melanin production.
- – The defective gene passes down from both parents to the child.
SYMPTOMS OF ALBINISM
- – An absence of colour in the hair, skin or eyes.
- – Lighter than normal colouring of the hair, skin or eyes.
- – Patches of skin that have an absence of colour.
MYTH AND FACT ON ALBINISM
Myth
They are results of in-breeding or incest, from closely related people, especially over many generations.
Fact
Albinism is an inherited disorder. It is inherited as a recessive gene from both parents. As with all recessive conditions, the chances of two people carrying the same recessive gene increase if the two have recent common ancestors. Therefore, while albinism is not necessarily a result of incest, marriage between close relatives can increase the chances of a child being born with albinism. Therefore, having children with a relative is highly discouraged. The body of people living with Albinism has little or no ability to produce the colour of the skin, hair and eyes. This colour is called “melanin”.
Myth
People with albinism are sterile.
Fact
This is not true. Persons with albinism can have children.
Myth
People with albinism cannot see during the day but see well at night.
Fact
People with albinism have eyesight problems due to a lack of ‘melanin’ pigmentation in the retina. They can see during the day and also at night, but they may either be short or long-sighted and may need sight aids.
Myth
Albinism is contagious.
Fact
Albinism is a genetic condition passed on by both parents. Each parent must be a carrier, and both must pass on an albinism gene for someone to be born with the condition. It cannot be caught and is not contagious.
People with albinism tend to have more developmental difficulties. True, but only because of vision problems and social pressures. When you can’t read the blackboard or you’re ostracized from society and can’t go to a normal school, you often fall behind academically. This will affect their grades thereby reducing their chances of being employed and opportunities for societal integration.
Myth
Albinism is a punishment or a curse from the gods or ancestral spirits due to wrongs done in the family.
Fact:
Albinism is a genetic condition that is passed on from parents to children. Many people are carriers of this recessive gene. Albinism is not a curse.
Myth
A person with albinism cannot have regularly pigmented children.
Fact
A person with albinism can give birth to regularly pigmented children if his/her partner is not a carrier of a similar recessive gene for albinism. The children may be carriers of the recessive gene but it will not be expressed in them.
Myth
People with albinism are not intelligent.
Fact
This is not true. Persons with albinism are intelligent and also perform well academically like other normally pigmented people. There are teachers, lawyers, politicians and musicians who are living with albinism.
Myth
The mother slept with a white man.
Fact
Children born with albinism may look ‘white’ due to absent or reduced pigmentation but are not products of cross-race sexual relationships.
Myth
People with albinism cannot go outside during the day.
Fact
People with albinism can go outside at any time but need to take extra precautions when out in the sun. Protective clothing, sunscreen and a hat are required all year round to minimize the risk of skin damage from the sun.