By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh |
Engage now Africa (ENA), a non-governmental organization which aims to heal, rescue and uplift individuals from poverty in some African countries in collaboration with Ghana Association of Persons Living with Albinism (GAPA) has celebrated International Albinism Awareness Day with a call on government to protect the lives of persons living with albinism and also create a conducive environment for them.
The event which was under the theme: “Still Standing Strong” took place at the British Council in Accra on June 13, 2019.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of ENA, Lynnette Gay said ENA was making efforts to improve upon the lives of persons living with albinism.
Francis Yaw Ansah, Education Director, ENA spoke on a study by the organisation in 2015 which revealed that persons living with albinism were the most marginalised in society.
Mr. Ansah said the study informed ENA’s decision to embark on a project involving persons living with albinism which aimed at providing them with sunscreen lotions, sun glasses, hats and empowering them economically to make them feel a part of society.
He added that ENA organised sensitisation programmes in various communities in Ghana for people to realise that albinism was not evil but a condition and people with that condition needed to be treated same way as other human beings.
President of GAPA, Abdul Wahed Ishaq recounted that on November 18, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to celebrate and recognise the achievement, contribution, abilities and struggles of person living with albinism on June 13 every year.
Mr. Ishaq lamented the discrimination and humiliation his members kept facing in society and pledged the Association’s resolve to fight for the rights of its members.
Member of Parliament for Krachi Nchumuru, John Majisi who chaired the event, indicated that Ghana needed to protect the lives of the vulnerable including persons living with albinism by giving them equal rights in society.
Hon. Majisi called on government to be passionate about persons living with albinism saying, in Namibia, citizens believed albinism to be a blessing and so government had made provisions for them.
Executive Director of GAPA, Newton K. Katseku on behalf of the Association, presented a petition making a case for persons living with albinism, to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
