By: Problyn J Alpha
The Executive Director of Albinism Royal Foundation Sierra Leone, Pastor Sarah Ngaiwa has appealed to the authorities of Kono District for a piece of land to construct a specialized medical health Centre for people living with albinism in the District. She made the appeal during a two day workshop held on the 23rd and 24th November, 2023 at the Sierra Leone Red Cross society conference Hall in Koidu City, Kono District.
Madam Ngaiwa maintained that, the construction of the specialized medical health Centre is geared toward the proper caring for people living with albinism in Kono District, adding cancer, eye sight problems, light skin and other health challenges are the major challenges that Albinos are faced with and as a result most of them have lost their lives due to lack of proper medical care or facilities in the District and the country as a whole. She further disclosed that the centre when constructed will be also serving as psychological and cancelling place for women and girls living with albinism in Kono in order to savage the much talked about Gender based violence in the District and the country as a whole.
She noted that most of the family members and societal believes have caused stigma and neglect among people living with albinism in their respective societies which according to her has created what she called social, marriage, education and medical barriers for people living with albinism in Kono District and the country by extension.
When talking about the purpose of the two days’ workshop, the secretary and Advocacy officer Albinism Royal Foundation Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Yajah told the audience that the two days’ workshop was to discuss about Gender based violence and to get the way forward that can help combat the problem and also protect women and girls living with albinism in Kono District and beyond.
He further explained that, both the women and girls have suffered a lot from Gender based or domestic violence in the District and the country as a whole by their counterparts which has created panic and fear for them to exercise their birth and constitutional rights for decades.
Meanwhile, the theme for the two days’ workshop was “protecting and Advocating to end Gender based violence among women and girls living with albinism in kono District through Advocacy and community collaboration.” In his statement the paramount chief of Soa chiefdom in kono District who dubbles as the chairman Council of paramount chiefs Kono District PC Emmanuel Tamba Touche Foyoh assured the executive Director of the Albinism Royal Foundation Sierra Leone and others present in the workshop that they as authorities in the District will surely provide the piece of land requested for the construction of the specialized medical health Centre for people living with albinism in Kono District.
PC Foyoh thanked the facilitators of the workshop and encouraged them to do more in order to raise awareness in the District and to get a better head way for people living with albinism in the District, the country and generations yet unborn. He therefore promised to be always available when in need of his attention. The two days’ workshop attracted different stakeholders drawn from every sphere of life in Koidu City, Kono District and most of them made contributions.
