Inside lives of Sokoto’s 115 albinos

For many of the albinos in Sokoto State, it has been painful experiences over the years. Albinism has been described as “a congenital disorder characterised by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes.’’ The lack of skin pigment has been noted to make an albino more susceptible to sunburn […]

For many of the albinos in Sokoto State, it has been painful experiences over the years. Albinism has been described as “a congenital disorder characterised by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes.’’ The lack of skin pigment has been noted to make an albino more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers. 

In Sokoto, 115 members are registered under the Albino Foundation.

One of the most pathetic stories of albinos is about a 24-year-old Ibrahim of Yar’Sakke area, Sokoto North, who has remained confined to his mother’s room.

The bedridden albino is treated like a baby – his mother baths and feeds him as he hardly moves from the mattress where he lies 24 hours every day. His sister, Asmau, 26, is also an albino though she is a bit better since she can move about. But she does not go out of the house due to her condition. Put in a nutshell, they need all the necessary medical attention and financial assistance.

From the family of eight, only Ibrahim and Asmau are born with albinism. The two, like many other albinos in Sokoto, look up to the foundation for their medication.

A 50-year-old Aisha Hassan of Gidan Haki area, Sokoto North Local Government Area, is another albino in the state. Aisha, who is one of those suffering from skin cancer, has a damaged nose. She was given the sum of N130,000 financial support by the Sultan of Sokoto to undergo radio therapy at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. The widow and mother of three – two daughters and a son – complains of severe eye pain. The eyes frequently discharge liquid. She appealed to the Sokoto State Government to include all albinos in the monthly N6,500 stipend for the physically challenged persons in the state, saying she needs the money to start a small scale business and take care of her children.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the Sokoto State branch of the Albino Foundation provides creams for Aisha and other albinos to minimise their risk of getting infected by skin cancer.

Another member of the foundation, 17-year-old Jamilu Sule from Balkore village, Kware Local Government Area, goes about begging for alms to feed. Incidentally, begging further exposes him to the harsh sun, which is dangerous to his skin. 

Sule, who belongs to a family of six, said he and one of his younger ones were albinos. His brother, Yusuf, 15, engages in farming at home, an activity that also exposes him a great deal to the sun. Sule, who has black spots all over his face and neck, said he was looking for an opportunity to go to school. It was further learnt that the frequent contact with sun rays drastically affected his skin.

The coordinator, Sokoto State chapter of the Albino Foundation, Abba Galadima Durbawa, said that due to the nature of their bodies, albinos were prone to skin cancer. Durbawa, who noted that an albino’s skin is very expensive to maintain, lamented the financial difficulties they faced, which makes it difficult for the foundation to adequately cater for their needs. He added that their situation was further aggravated by stigmatisation. He stressed the need to include albinos in the monthly allowance given by the physically challenged by the state government. According to him, other challenges that need to be looked into include a regular supply of sun-protection cream, medication and education grants, as well as a vehicle to enable the foundation reach out to albinos in rural areas so that they can get adequate care and awareness.

“Presently, we have 115 registered members in the state, and most of them are from rural areas. We want to reach out to albinos in various parts of the state and educate them on self-protection from the sun while creating awareness on what albinism is all about and how best to relate with victims,” he said.

Durbawa recalled that the administration of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko provided them with some creams through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, while the present administration organised an albinism week for them. During the albinism week, victims were enlightened on how to take care of their bodies while medication was provided free of charge through the ministry. He, however, added that there was the need for regular medication.

“We pray earnestly for our plight to be considered since we cannot endure moving about under the sun to look for support,” he said. 

He further revealed that the foundation was set up in the state in 2010 while he became the coordinator in 2011. “I started with five members, but now, the foundation has 115 members across Sokoto State, with some of them living in rural areas.

“We tried to get a permanent secretariat but could not; hence we hold our activities at the residence of former President Shehu Shagari who is our grand patron. We really need an office to enhance our activities,” he said. 

Durbawa recalled that before the establishment of the foundation, most of the albinos only begged for alms to survive, but they now strive to go to school.

On what they are doing to improve on the activities of the foundation, he said, “We are embarking on sensitisation of people, especially the well-to-do to come to our aid. We just started reaching out to individuals and organisations.” 

He explained that ignorance and poverty had made many albinos to engage in activities that are not good for their condition. For instance, he said it was not advisable for them to go about begging, engaging in farming activities and other arduous works under the sun in a place as hot and dry as Sokoto.

“Our skins tend to get affected by the sun, which makes albinos look older than their real ages; the sun squeezes the skin. Also, under normal circumstances, albinos should not engage in a very hard labour as it adversely affects them. It speeds up their aging process, making a 20-year-old man or woman look like a 40-year-old,” he explained, adding that they face stigmatisation and people tend to make jest of their skin colour.

Durbawa, who is the only albino in his family, said he tried four times to get someone to marry but failed. “I tried about four times. Whenever I contacted a girl, her friends or relatives advised her against going into it. At the end of the day I got disappointed. But I have gotten married to my relative who is not an albino.”

The coordinator of Albino Foundation, who has a very handsome son and a beautiful daughter who are not albinos, stressed that with adequate support, they can live normal lives.

“We need the intervention of the state government and others to alleviate our sufferings,” he pleaded.