by Bulus Baba, TQM Correspondent Jos Plateau
The Albino Foundation Plateau state in collaboration with Voice Nigeria organized a One day Training Workshop for its members and other stakeholders with the view to build their social capacity in the society.
The theme is Building Confidence for Persons with Albinism.
The Workshop which took place at Tudun-Wada Jos-South of Plateau state, for the Northern Senatorial Zone comes at the heels of similar other workshops held for the Southern and Central Senatorial zones, in Shandam and Pankshin respectively.
It is a known fact that persons with Albinism, like other persons with other forms of Disabilities have for long been subjected to various kinds of rejection, suppression, marginalization and in many cases killing form from family members and other members of the society.
It is then not surprising to see a good number of these people crawling back to their individual shell for protection and comfort, which result in low self esteem.
This leaves this these set of people with very low participation in family and society every days activities such as, Education, Business, Religion , Married life, etc.
Considering this, The Albino Foundation in Plateau state, took a giant step to help their members by putting together these workshops and invite resources persons to help them eliminate this problem.
One of the resource person, Adah Ruth of the pediatric department, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
She gave reasons why a person with Albinism need self Confidence to include:
*Self confidence would help one to move to the next step in life.
*Itwill help one to overcome self challenges.
*A self Confidence person try new things.
*Self Confidence gives one passion and motivation to do things.
*It makes people to enjoy your company.
*It allows a person to be him/herself, not allowing people’s words and actions to affects them.
A Self confident person with albinism to know that his/her body is not perfect, but that is what God has given to work with, the person look for ways to protect it and ways to use it well to benefits him/herself and humanity,
She added.
A self confident person with albinism takes needed steps to set and actualize goals with less complain.
She also gave external factors that affect confidence.
=Negative childhood experience.
=Negative societal and cultural values,
=Negative family,
= Friends attitude, etc.
Adah Ruth also gives steps to build self confidence.
+First step is to find out why a person with albinism lack self confidence.
+Rationalize things. Like in any situation, one is still better than others.
+Clear old beliefs. Like Albino die young.
+Have attitude of gratitude. Appreciate those good things God have bless you with.
At the end give good Health tips. That include
×The Use of sunglasses and bigger hats, the bigger, the better
×Making use of sun cream.
×The using of thick clothes covering body
×Routine skin and caner screening every six months.
Dr. Sunday Zakariah of Internal medicine unit, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
In his contribution to building confidence among persons with albinism. Drawing from his personal experiences, on how he was able to overcome his challenges and low self confidence in his way to success.
He started by accepting the reality of his condition first , especially, his inability to see well. This helped him to do things differently to achieve result. Like in his Secondary school days, he find it difficult to see what is written on the board, so he changed his sitting position from the back seat to sitting on the floor in front, as the front seats were taken by the bigger boys. Even though doing that was not easy, but, it changed his performance for the better.
He therefore, charged persons with Albinism to device means that would help them to do thing better and well. This would help them to gain self confidence.
He also advised persons with albinism to do away with self pity and come out to acquire new skills, that would make them relevant in the society.
In an interview with some of the participants, a Mother of child with albinism, Sa’adatu Sani said, she is highly motivated by the encouragement received at the workshop, saying that she is going back home a more determined mother to give all the necessary support and care to her child who needs to have a better life.
Sa’adatu who invited three persons with albinism, also said she have not been disappointed, as the people she invited are all well pleased and glad that she invited them to be part of the workshop.
Ibrahim Abdulkadir a fourteen years person with Albinism told TQM that, he is now more equipped by the training of the workshop to pursue his dream of becoming an accountant in life.
Mr. Abel T. Mvandaga, the coordinator, Plateau state The Albino Foundation, in his closing remark, urged the participants to put in use all that were taught by the resource persons.
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
A resource person
giving his experience and encouraging the participants
