The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MOBILE network operator, NetOne on Wednesday handed over sunscreen lotions, sun hats, lip balms and sanitary wear to 200 people with albinism in Manicaland.
The donation was handed over to Hope for the Future Trust, an organisation which is spearheading development projects within the albinism community across the country at the belated International Albinism Awareness Day celebrations.
The trust’s founder, Mrs Thandie Temptation Mhlanga distributed the donations to the beneficiaries.
In a speech read on his behalf by NetOne regional manager for Manicaland and Mashonaland East, Mr Farai Matope, the company’s Group chief executive, Engineer Raphel Mushanawani said the company is supporting different vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including those with albinism.
“We are commemorating International Albinism Awareness under the hashtags #United in Making Our Voice heard and #Inclusion4equility. We will continue to support people with albinism and will take this initiative to the various regions across the country. It is our mandate to ensure that we leave no place and no one behind.
“Albinism is not a curse and as such, we have collaborated with Hope For the Future Trust to create awareness, fight discrimination, stigma and marginalization against those with albinism.
“Albinism is a rare condition, a genetically inherited difference that occurs at birth, it is a non-contagious and is caused by lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, thereby causing lack of defence to sunlight and bright light,” said Eng Mushanawani.
“We believe the journey does not end here as there is more that needs to be done in ensuring that communities are educated to increase awareness that help alleviate, uphold and protect the rights of people with albinism,” he said.
In an interview, Ms Mhlanga said the donation will go a long way in alleviating the challenges bedevilling the albino community.
She went on to call for more partnerships.
“We need to go to schools and educate our children that albinism is not contagious. We need to catch them young and educate them on how we are all equal regardless of our skin colour or condition.
‘‘The condition is a matter of genes and nothing else,” she said.
Ms Mhlanga also challenged Government to offer free health services to people with albinism.
“There is also need that the people living with albinism receive free treatment when it comes to their eyesight and skin problems because many parents with children who have the condition are not financially stable. They end up living with a worsened condition because they cannot afford to pay for medical services,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to empower people with albinism by funding their income generating projects so that they are spared from the dependency syndrome.
The beneficiaries received two bottles of sunscreen lotions, two bottles of lip balm and two packets of sanitary wear each.
Receiving the care kit, Ms Rudo Madhikondi thanked the network giant for remembering the albino community.
“We can barely afford buying sunscreen lotion because it is very expensive. A bottle costs US$30 and those who are not employed can’t afford it. Without the lotion, we are exposed to serious diseases like skin cancer so this donation means a lot to us,” said the 37-year-old woman.
