Pretoria - Youth living with albinism have pleaded with the Department of Social Development to help dispel myths around albinism and help them access equal opportunities in education and work.
This was raised during a dialogue session for youth with albinism held on at the weekend in Gugulethu, Cape Town.
The department has been in Gugulethu since 8 May conducting a series of dialogue meetings with various special groups from around the country in an effort to gain a better understanding of their challenges and aspirations in order to assist them improve their lives.
Speaking on behalf of the youth with albinism, Maxwell Thabethe from KwaZulu-Natal said that myths about albinism still find an ear in communities and many children with albinism are still prejudiced and marginalised in their communities.
“The school drop-out rate for young people with albinism is very high because of the torment they are subjected to in schools by ignorant learners and teachers. There are not enough medical practitioners adequately trained to deal with our condition and many times, we do not receive adequate medical care when we require it.
“We are also discriminated against in the workplace. Finding a job for a youth with albinism is difficult because potential employers look at what you cannot do instead of what you can do. If you’re lucky to get a job, the chances of promotion are slim because you are seen as inadequate,” explained Thabethe.
The youth requested the department to consider the standardisation of the criteria used to determine eligibility to receive a government grant for people with albinism. They further requested a child care dependency grant for children born with albinism up to the age of 18.
This, the youth said, would give poor families the means to buy things such as sunscreen and provide adequate eye care for children with albinism.
They also requested that labour policy reform to address perceived unfair labour practices against people with albinism.
Nomasonto Mazibuko, from the Albinism Society of South Africa, appealed to the government to train more social workers on albinism.
“It is a very disturbing situation when a person who is supposed to counsel and give facts to a mother who has given birth to a child with albinism begins to ask inappropriate questions about the child. The department must look at training more people with albinism as social workers to address these issues,” said Mazibuko.
The department’s Deputy Director General for Social Policy Responding, Wiseman Magasela, said government’s response to the issues raised needed to be two-pronged. He stressed the need for the youth to work with the department.
“Firstly, [we need] to craft an awareness strategy on albinism to dispel myths and ensure that we eliminate discrimination and prejudice so that people with albinism enjoy the full advantage of the Bill of Rights as outlined in the Constitution.”
Magasela said government would have to consider a multi-governmental approach to provide direct assistance to people with albinism.
“We have to look into the definition of albinism as it relates to disability grants. Currently, albinism is defined as a disability in South Africa, but having the condition does not automatically qualify one for a disability grant. We need, together, to come up with a concrete proposal on this matter,” said Magasela.
The department also promised to look at the expansion of the “dignity pack” programme, which is packs containing lip balm, sunscreen and sun hats, amongst others. – SAnews.gov.za
