The term Albinism originated from a Latin word called Albus which means WHITE. It is defined as a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme involved in the production of melanin. It is the opposite of melanism. It has been scientifically proven that Albinism is an hereditary condition characterized by the absence of melanin in particular, in the eyes, skin, hair, scales, feathers or cuticle.
Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and is known to affect all vertebrates, including humans. While an organism with complete absence of melanin is called an albino an organism with only a diminished amount of melanin is described as leucistic or albinoid.
Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus and amblyopia. Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers.
Due to misinformation and certain traditional beliefs, many Nigerians stigmatized Albinos. We must know that Albinism is NOT Contagious... So no matter how close you get to an Albino, you cannot become one.
According to Nyasa Times a Malawian Paper, the country's ministry of gender revealed that the counsel would be a subsidiary of the ministry of justice and would ensure the imposition of stiff penalties in all cases relating to albino killings and attacks on citizens living with albinism.
In a statement released by Abigail Dzimadzi, chairperson of the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM), over 50 attacks on people with albinism had been recorded between December 2014 and March 2016 alone.
Please, lets learn to treat every human with respect and love of God.
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