"Tanzanian albinos seek government’s aid" by Jacquelyn Martin | Associated Press, June 16, 2013
KABANGA, Tanzania — Burning in the daylight and hunted in the shadows, having albinism is often a death sentence in East Africa. In Tanzania, 1 out of every 1,400 people has albinism, a genetic condition characterized by a lack of pigment in the body....
Albinos are widely seen as a source of magic in Tanzania’s traditional communities....
In Tanzania, albinos are often referred to as ghosts, or zero zero, which in Swahili signifies someone who is less than human. Legends here suggest that even when an albino is killed, he or she never really dies.
Brutal attacks against albinos are often led by witch doctors who use albino body parts in potions they claim bring riches. In response, the government began placing children and adults with albinism into safe houses. Although they may be physically protected in the centers, many there feel imprisoned.
In 2008 there was a rash of negative stories by Western journalists about the killings of albinos, said Peter Ash, founder of Under The Same Sun.
‘‘These centers came in response to the killings. It’s how the government has chosen to respond. The government has basically abandoned these kids,’’ he said. ‘‘There is no long-term plan.’’
Holding her 2-month-old baby, Jessica, on her back in a traditional kanga cloth, Helen Sekalima, 40, sorted dry beans. The dark-skinned mother came to live at the Kabanga Protectorate Center after her newborn infant was threatened.
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