Abel T Mvendaga is the project lead of Voice Nigeria sponsored project of The Albino Foundation, he also the Plateau State Coordinator, The Albino Foundation (TAF).
In this interview with our correspondent, Bulus Bala Izang, he discussed the VOICE Nigeria sponsored project of TAF and what is expected to be achieved at the end of the project and the peculiar challenges faced by Persons with albinism.
TQM. You mentioned Voice Nigeria, and you attached a project to it. What is the project all about?
The project is about creating awareness on issues of albinism, both to the Persons with Albinism and the community.
We will build the Confidence of persons with Albinism, after we must have built their confidence, we will tell them about their rights, from there they can showcase the personal talents and abilities to the world.
Our project is under empowerment grant, with the title “MY NATURE, MY PRIDE”.
TQM. What does “my nature, my pride”, means?
“My nature, my pride” is to inform the public that the Persons with Albinism love themselves, tell people about ourselves, our confidence, the things we can do. Let the public that we are like any others, the only difference is the color of our skin, which is not a problem as long as being a human being is concern.
TQM. Why is confidence an issue with Albinism?
Because, right from day one, the Person with Albinism is told that he/she is not good enough and also because of this misconception of the society about issues of Persons with Albinism, some say that the Persons with Albinism are spirit, among other things that people ascribe to albinism, even some members of your family look down on you which can degenerate to loss of confidence.
With this reason, it become pertinent for us to build the Confidence of Persons with Albinism, so that they will understand who they are, and become too proud of themselves. Once you are proud of yourself as a person and you know who you are, no one can intimidate you.
After we must have built their confidence, we will then begin to tell them about their rights as humans for them to understand that they have equal rights with others. Then, we will have them to showcase the talents and abilities to the World.
TQM. For how long have you been doing this with Voice Nigeria?
We started in May this year, that is year 2020 and its ending at the end of March, 2021.
TQM. What is the result of this confidence building among persons with Albinism so far?
By our rating so far, we have seen about thirty percent (30%) positive change in confidence building among our members. And we are hoping at the end of the project, we are hoping to record fifty percent (50%), not only among our members, but the society as a whole.
TQM. Now, we have deeply understood the issue of confidence, what about the issue of rights that you mentioned?
Many Persons with Albinism rights have been violated in one way or the other. It is important for them to know that as citizens of Nigeria, the constitution have given them equal rights like other citizens.
Before the coming into effect of the Discrimination against persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, a lot of Persons with Albinism have been raped, and when such issues come up, it is dismissed or handled with levity. Also it is common to hear of a person with albinism being denied of family inheritance.
And when it comes to marriage, when a non-albino person wants to marry a Person with Albinism, some parents and relations usually go against such marriage.
And many cases like these, as such, the issue of educating Persons with Albinism and the community on the God given and the constitutional given rights of the Persons with Albinism is also key. Rights such as right to life, right to property, right of association, right to education, right to health care, right to employment, etc.
TQM. It is one thing for a person to know his/her rights, it is another to secure such rights. Where can a person with Albinism secure such rights?
Just like other persons, the Persons with Albinism can secure their rights in the law court.
We are trying to put in place a desk in the states, where a person with Albinism can channel complaints. Thank God, in Plateau state, we have the Disability Rights Commission.
We have also been walking closely with the National Human Rights Commission to that effect.
TQM. Have the issue of securing rights among Persons with Albinism gaining ground?
Yes, before now, whenever their rights are violated, they just cry within and let things go, but now they are speaking out which is encouraging.
TQM. How familiar are your members with relevant laws put in place to guard and protect their rights?
That is why we are creating awareness, it is continuous process and it would take time to get the desired result.
TQM. What are some of the major problems of Persons with Albinism?
I would say, the persons with Albinism face four major challenges.
1. Discrimination in form of stigmatization, name calling, bullying, etc.
2. There is health issues, this is in two parts,
The eye problem, its common among persons with Albinism, they usually don’t see far.
Another one is skin cancer, this is the deadliest among the two. Once one allows it to reached full cancer, treatment become costly as one can spend between 1million naira to 6million naira. But at early stage treatment, it can cost about 100,000 naira.
Cancer is the worst enemy of the Persons with Albinism. Nationally, between 1/01/2007 to 31/10/2020. About 3. 000, Persons with Albinism have lost their lives due to cancer related illness.
TQM. With all these health challenges, how much have you engaged the government and the Health sector as a leader?
The government have really been friendly, we have been knocking on their door, and we are seriously engaging the Health sector, it has not been long that we started engaging them. Before you engaged someone, you have to develop a relationship, which is what we are doing, by bringing the ministry into focus.
3. The challenge of education. Education among Persons with Albinism is very low, due to discrimination associated with health and poverty. About eighty percent of our members are uneducated.
4. Next on the line is unemployment. With low education, rate of employment is expected to be low.
Here in Jos, there is Person with Albinism at about age 45 years, who have been at home and have never been to even primary school. We have cases like that.
TQM. Poverty is rank very high among Persons with Albinism because of lack of exposure and education. How are you addressing it?
All these are the challenges, through this project we are trying and aiming to correct them to an extent.
TQM. Will you allow THE QUALITATIVE MAGAZINE to be monitoring the progress of your project as it goes on?
Yes, we need media like THE QUALITATIVE MAGAZINE to showcase our activities, we are thankful to THE QUALITATIVE MAGAZINE for being there for us.
TQM. Thank you for your time Sir.
You are welcome
