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| Bonface Massah |
Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) stresses that the ongoing Budget Meeting of the National Assembly should allocate resources for the fight against dreadful attacks and killings of persons with albinism.
President for the association, Bonface Massah said resources are needed to fight the criminals who are adept in the attacks and added that relevant legislations also be reviewed in this Meeting of National Assembly to support the prosecution of cases of albino attacks.
Massah was speaking at the press briefing in Lilongwe on Wednesday, when the National Technical Committee on Abuse of Persons with Albinism in Malawi chaired by Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba was providing details of progress and action plan for response to the abductions, killings and exhumation of the remains of persons with albinism.
He warned that if the Parliamentarians will spend time in the House without addressing the problem then “They are killing us”
He stressed that the response to the problem should not only be the word of mouth but with resources and that “Investigations must be urgent” as well.
On Tuesday, Malawi has recorded a fresh brutal murder in Ntcheu district of a male albino aged 38 who has been identified by police as Fletcher Masina
picture found here He was attacked while in his garden and attackers chopped off his arms, legs and private parts.
Referring to this case, Massah said even him as person championing the rights of persons with albinism is not safe and that without concrete efforts to curb the situation, persons with albinism will all die.
He also called for speedy prosecution involving albino attacks.
Later in an interview, Massah said “Government has accepted that this is a crisis and that is why we are calling Parliament to also address this with a crisis response. Normally parliament has mandate to allocate resources when we have crisis or disasters in our country and this is one clear a crisis that we are experiencing in Malawi that needs urgent attention by our parliament.”
He said adequate budgetary allocation should be channeled to the Ministry of Health in order to address the health needs of people with albinism, to Ministry of Home Affairs for Police investigations and police trainings on how to tackle the problem.
“Parliament must ensure that each budget that they are passing this year must have clear response to our needs and even setting aside special funds that will really respond to the current crisis that we are experiencing like to deal with altitudes and special needs that people with albinism have.” He stressed
He also explained that apart from resources, people with albinism wants the House to review weak laws that Malawians have been highlighting as one of the contributing factor to the lighter sentences that courts have been handing to convicted criminals.
“That is also a key role that Parliament must play to support the response that has been taken by various stakeholders.” He emphasized
Technical Committee’s Work Progress
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| Ntaba |
Chairperson for the Committee, Hetherwick Ntaba announced that short term actions have been identified by his committee and there is progress in terms of implementation.
“The mapping exercise to identify the population of person with albinism across the country for targeted interventions has started and is being coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government. The ministry will involve the TAs (Traditional Authorities), Group Village Heads and Village Heads in this task” disclosed Ntaba expressing hope that this will make it possible to reach many of the persons with albinism
He outlined that there will be continued awareness campaigns on albinism issues to stop attacks, speedy investigations and prosecutions of criminal suspects, investigative and intelligence research to establish loot cause of attacks, regulation of traditional healers since the attacks are allegedly perpetrated by myth that body parts of albinos can bring fortunes when used in magic.
On health related needs for persons with albinism Ntaba said the Ministry of Health shall provide sunscreen lotions, supply of protective clothing including hats and sunglasses to persons with albinism.
“They will also alert their clinicians to look out for possible skin cancer complications in patients with albinism at the clinics” he added
Mr. Ntaba further mentioned that Ministry of Education will also put into Boarding Schools with appropriate security arrangements all children who are failing to go to school for fear of being attacked.
Ntaba also hinted that there are mid- and long-term plans lined up for implementation and would like to have the National Response Plan on attacks of persons with albinism fully implemented. He mentioned that the plan will among other things trainings for magistrates, police prosecutors and investigators, and address health needs for the persons with albinism.
Ntaba also noted that although the committee does not have resources, a lot can be done without finances because this is a human issue that requires collect efforts by being each brother’s keeper. However, he said resources are necessary but “let not lack of resources stop us from protecting persons with albinism”
Persons with albinism in Malawi are being attacked, killed and even their remains exhumed due to the disbelief that their body parts can grant benefits such as wealth.
On 5th May 2016, President Peter Mutharika instituted the National Technical Committee on Abuse of Persons with Albinism in Malawi with mandate of discussing and reach agreements with all stakeholders and oversee implementation of agreements, initiatives and strategies with an aim of ending increased and gross violation of human rights of persons with albinism.
The multi-sectoral committee comprises institution such as Office of President and Cabinet, Line Ministries of Information, Gender, Justice, Health, Home Affairs, Local Government and Education. It also included Malawi Police Service, the Judiciary, The Association of People with Albinism, Association of Traditional Healers, and Citizens Alliance representing civil society organizations in Malawi. There are also stakeholders from the donor community.
