Ujama Pamodzi Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works to prevent violence against women and children, says parents of children with albinism fail to give them access to some basic rights for fear of exposing them to danger.

Ujama Pamodzi Africa Mchinji district coordinator Bessie Mhone said during awareness meetings in the district that the organisation is conducting campaigns to ensure that people are aware of the rights that children with albinism have.

She said: “We observed that parents with children with albinism live in fear such that some do not send their children to school as a way of protecting them.

“It is important that parents are empowered and community members enlightened on the rights of children with albinism.”

Mchinji district disabilities rehabilitation officer Master Kachule said the district has about 32 school-going children with albinism.

“I commend organisations like Ujama Pamodzi for conducting such awareness campaigns as people are now becoming informed and are realising that people with albinism have rights like everyone else,” he said.

Ujama Pamodzi, with funding from United Nations International Children Education Fund, is implementing a one-year project in Mchinji to prevent and respond to violence against children with albinism and to improve their access to education.

The organisation’s awareness campaigns have been conducted at Mkanda, Kapiri, Kamwendo, Tembwe and Guilleme trading centres.

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