SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE REGION

  • The bodies of people with albinism have magical powers:
They do NOT! This belief has led to their bodies being used in witchcraft practices in Tanzania, Burundi and even Kenya. In Tanzania, more than 40 people with albinism have been reported to have been murdered to date.
  • Albinism is contagious:
It is NOT! it is a genetic condition and NOT a disease
  • Children with albinism are products of affairs with white men:
They are NOT! it takes an albinism gene from both parents to result in a child with albinism
  • Women are solely responsible for the genetic mutation that causes albinism:
They are NOT! it takes both parents having the gene to result in a child with albinism
  • Albinism equals brain damage:
It does NOT! a melanin deficiency does not affect brain development
  • People with albinism have red eyes:
They do NOT! because of the little or no melanin in their eyes which is necessary to sieve light, bright light may reflect out of them occasionally making them appear red. They are prone to this red reflex in the pupillary area. People with albinism often have light blue and sometimes green eyes.
  • People with albinism are terminally ill, weak, cannot hear, and/or are intellectually challenged:

This is NOT true! people with albinism are susceptible to skin cancer because of their melanin deficiency that protects us from UV rays and this can lead to death if left untreated but albinism itself is NOT responsible for shortening one’s mortality. People with albinism can live the normal life span.

  • People with albinism are blind:

They are NOT! Little or no pigment can lead to low vision, nystagmus (pendular movements of the eye), photophobia (fear of light) and a red reflex in the pupillary area.

  • People with albinism only attend blind and visually impaired schools:

They do NOT! People with albinism can attend regular schools with the assistance of their school, parents and community. They need large type text, high contrast written material, computers with large character display and copies of the teachers’ notes for close up reading. 10% to 20% of Kenyan children with albinism attend regular schools.
 
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