Beauty By Nature raises awareness of albinism
One of the issues the speakers of the day raised was that the government classifies albinism as a disability, yet people with albinism still don’t qualify for disability grants.
Beauty By Nature (BBN) albinism society held an event on September 14 at Fumana High School in Katlehong to celebrate September being Albinism Awareness Month.
People with albinism came in numbers to celebrate the day together.
Piet Lengoabala, BBN secretary, said, “Today’s event is to create awareness of albinism. We want people to understand what albinism is and for them to stop believing myths about albinism. Once people understand what albinism is, then they’ll never have myths about us.”
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Mpho Tjope, owner of Albinism Advocacy for Access, who also runs the ‘I can be’ campaign said, “The ‘I can be’ campaign empowers learners from schools as they drop out or try to commit suicide because of the challenges they face living with albinism.”
Carol Komane from Hands that Give organisation said, “My organisation deals with children with albinism and disability. Since it is international Albinism Awareness Month, we decided to meet and have this programme. My organisation goes to different companies and requests donations so that we can buy daily skin essentials for children with albinism, as they have problems with their skin.”
Mpumelelo Nkosi, a parent of three children with albinism, said, “I’m here simply because I’ve got a passion and love for people with albinism, as I’ve got three boys with albinism. I try by all means to attend such events with my boys so that they can learn and know that there are other people who are like them.”
One of the issues the speakers of the day raised was that the government classifies albinism as a disability, yet people living with albinism still don’t qualify for disability grants.
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Nandi Mosia, Sassa Gauteng spokesperson, said, “Disability grant is payable to people who are unable to enter the labour market due to the severity of their disability. There is no grant for people with albinism. Doctors from Sassa get referral letters from doctors who attend to patients before we qualify or disqualify someone from getting a disability grant.”
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