BUBANZA July 10th (ABP) – The Bubanza province (North-West of Burundi) celebrated on Thursday, July 6, 2023, the International Albinism Awareness Day, under the theme “Inclusion is strength”. On that occasion, it was stressed that Albinos must be considered as other human beings, with the same rights and duties. They are therefore called on not to take this as a disability, because they are capable of doing what others do.
According to the legal representative of the “Albinos sans frontières” association in Burundi, Mr. Alexis Bangirinama, the number of albinos has increased from 900 in 2010 to 1,240 in 2023, including 94 from Bubanza province. He said that this category of people comes up against a lot of constraints that destabilize their lives, for the simple reason that there are those who have not yet understood that the only difference with others is only skin color.
In the past, he said, some albinos were killed by their parents at birth, others were hidden in houses for several years. In recent times, some have even been savagely killed as a result of obscurantism. Albinos also complain of exclusion from the labor market, in schools and elsewhere.
One of the albinos, Odile Nizeyimana, told a check by ABP that she encountered many difficulties at the schools she attended. She revealed that some teachers did not understand that she should approach the blackboard at a time when some students refused to share the bench with her. Others threw hurtful words at her, but now she’s proud to be in college.
Those albinos ask the State and benefactors to support them in medical care and disease prevention.
The albinos who were present at the ceremonies received aid in the form of hats, umbrellas, shoes and goggles for skin and eye protection.