'Three of my six children get albinism, but we love dem equally'

Wetin we call dis Video, 'We be different colours, but one pipo'
'Three of my six children get albinism, but we love dem equally'
    • Author, Komla Adom & Idara Monday
    • Role, Senior Reporter & Producer
    • Reporting from, Accra

Hajia Humu Suala na mama of six children – three of dem get albinism, even tho she and her husband Abdul Rahim Sambo dia skin colour dey black.

Humu Sambo say her second child get golden hair when she bin born her.

"I neva see sometin like dat bifor, na so I tok my husband wey im say make I no fear, na picking God give us."

She tok BBC Pidgin say "pipo bin tell me say I lack sometin for my blood dat be why I get plenti pickins wit albinism."

"Na so I go check-up wia my doctor explain say anybody fit get special pickin wey be different."

Her first child wey bin dey senior high school get dark skin colour togeda wit two odas Ryan Sambo and Abdul Salam Sambo.

The Sambo family in a group photo with smiles.
Wetin we call dis foto, Mama, papa and three of dia albinistic children
Parents sit in their home on a sofa after uniting their family and encouraging them to push to attain their dreams without fear of stigma
Wetin we call dis foto, "We don train our children say make dem no fight pipo wey don dey tease dem, rather make dem show dem love"

Hajia Humu Suala say whenever she dey town wit her children, pipo go begin dey ask her if na her children.

"My husband get plenty family – like 24 pickins, none of dem get albinism, na only us. But we love all of dem, we neva dey discriminate."

Even though dem get different colours – na one ogbonge family dem be.

Dia papa, Abdul Rahim Sambo promise say im go inspire im pickins to believe in dia serf and push to be great pipo for diaserf.

"No be pesin go tok God wetin im like, na God alone dey give child…I train my children say even if pipo bin dey tease dem, make dem neva fight".

Health sabi pipo tok say albinism na genetic condition wey dey caused by genes wey bin dey affect di amount of melanin di body don dey produce.

Dr Michael Baah Biney wey be public health advocate explain say "na genetic disorder wey parents bin dey pass to dia children. E dey affect di skin, hair and di cornea od di eye – leading to problems like photophobia wey be light sensitivity as well as squints and unsteady eye movments."

Three children with albinism and anoda without albinism sit in a sofa hand-in-hand and smiling to show their unity and love.
Wetin we call dis foto, "We be different colours, but one pipo"

Di Ghana Association of persons wit Albinism (GAPA) for 2023 tok say dem get ova 2,700 registered persons with albinism for di kontri.

Oga for di association say dia members still bin dey face discrimination.

Oga Newton Katseku tok local media agency di GNA say "pipo wit albinism still dey face unemployment sake of dia health condition, some dey face marriage denial among odas."

Im add say "govment gat to include sun care products, dermatological and optical services for di national health insurance scheme (NHIS)."

Filmed and edited by Idara Monday