President Jakaya Kikwete made the pledge here yesterday when speaking at the climax of the International Albinism Awareness Day, which at national level was held at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium.
Kikwete said that in the 2015/16 fiscal year, the government has allocated large amount of money in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, whereby a certain amount will be allocated to buying treatment facilities for PwA.
“As government, we are aware of challenges facing PwA including lack of proper medication such as skin cancer treatments.
That’s why I have directed responsible authorities to ensure that all necessary treatment facilities for PwA are made available,” he said.
The President also urged clerics across the country to seriously take part in the fight against barbaric killings of PwA, saying: “The International Albinism Awareness Day was proclaimed by UN as a response to the albino killings happening in Tanzania…so this has tarnished our image to the international community.”
“That’s why it is important for everyone to seriously take part in this fight against these barbaric killings.”
He further said that for the past eight years Tanzania has achieved a lot in curbing albino killings, saying in 2008 killings of people with albinism were high, but between 2011 and 2013 the killings were almost zero.
“But, last year and early this year, six albinos were killed by unknown people in witchcraft believes…these killings have made PwA to live in fear across the country…this is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
He added that between 2006 and 2010 about 139 people were arrested, whereby 35 people brought to court and 25 cases have been completed and 13 have been sentenced to death, while 79 were acquitted for lack of evidence.
President Kikwete also said 164 traditional healers have been arrested since 2006, and appeared in court of which 37 were released, while others were banned from engaging in such business.
“All this shows how we are serious in addressing the vicious killings of people with albinism.”
A representative of PwA, who is also a lecturer at the University of Dodoma Dr Abdallah Posi, said PwA live in fear all the time calling the government and other players to work on practical measures that would make albinos live in peace as other people do.
Health and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Dr Kebwe Steven Kebwe said: “It is the responsibilities of everyone to ensure that people with albinism are protected in our localities, because killers are from the community.”
Dr Kebwe urged district and regional medical officers to ensure they get enough stocks of drugs for PwA from the Medical Store Department (MSD).
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP representative in Tanzania Alvaro Rodrigue said that his organisation will continue working with government and members of the community to strengthen the capacity of the national human protection system including civil society, commission for human rights and good governance.
He said: “We are also working with media and judiciary so that we can be in a better position to take effective steps to ensure the protection of human rights is observed.”
The UN boss in Tanzania also said: “UN is working closely particularly on crimes against persons with albinism with both the public prosecutor’s office as well as institutions such as CHRAGG to ensure that they are able to support the government as it works on ensuring justice for victims of attacks because of albinism.”
“We in the UN as well as all member states including Tanzania are committed to the observance, respect and promotion of normative frameworks, and we are guided by the purposes, principles and provisions of the charter of the UN and Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he observed.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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