Albinos body appeals for international support: “We are still under attack.”
Association of persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) has appealed for support from international community in dealing with attacks, killing and exhumation of graves of its members in the country.
APAM president Young Muhamba made the call during an awareness campaign in Ntchisi district which brought together different stakeholders including traditional leaders, traditional doctors, police, social welfare officers among others.
According to Muhamba, there is dragging of cases concerning attacks of persons with albinism in the country’s courts; hence the call.
”We have so many outstanding cases in the courts so the general society wouldn’t see the bad aspect of it,” he said.
He said it is worrisome to note that the international community has been silent in providing support towards these cases, a development which is contributing to an increase number of such cases in the country.
”We know advocacy issues are very expensive and we need more resources to train the committees on issues affecting persons with albinism hence the need for international community to come in with financial and human capacity support,” he added.
The appeal comes barely a month after a grave of a person with albinism was exhumed and 8 bones were stolen.
Village Headman Kazonga, T/A Malenga concurred with Muhamba and said he believes that such issues continue to occur in the district because the communities have not seen any case being concluded and offenders being given punishment.
“Communities have not seen any culprit being punished and that the investigations take too long to be concluded no wonder people take advantage of committing similar cases,” he said.
One of the parents Grey Dickson from Mkhalapathumba village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malenga who has a child with albinism who was present during the event said there is need for urgent help in addressing issues affecting persons with albinism and they continue to live in fear as these cases continue to occur in the country.
“Whenever we hear that there is an attack of persons with albinism, we become afraid because we think that if these attacks are happening to others, one day it might be our children being attacked hence the need for support to help in dealing with these issues,” Dickson added.
According to reports, there are not less than five cases concerning attacks of persons with albinism in the district among which none of them has been concluded.
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