Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network Inc

Susan DuBois, a co-founder of the Asante Mariamu, provided an update about the situation for people with albinism that live in East Africa - mainly Tanzania and Burundi -  to the HPS Network New York conference on Sunday morning. DuBois and Linda Wood, both members of the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), founded the Asante Mariamu in response to reports of people with albinism being mutilated and murdered for their body parts in this area of the world. Some members of the HPS Network brought sunscreen to be passed along to organizations serving people with albinism  in East Africa.

Witch doctors in this region believe that the body parts of people with albinism can be used to create potions that generate wealth for their users. As a result, thousands of dollars are paid for the body parts of people with albinism, the younger the better. So far 71 people with albinism in East Africa have been murdered by the witch doctors and their supporters. Another six have been geminately injured losing arms and legs.

In March the Asante Mariamu lead the effort to get a resolution condemning the killing of people with albinism passed by the US House of Representatives. House resolution 1088 was introduced by U.S. Representative Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA). It passed the House in record-breaking time with a vote of 418 to 1.

Since DuBois spoke to the HPS Network conference the Asante Mariamu has been busy. Unfortunately, since the HPS conference another four people with albinism have been killed and four mutilated in Tanzania and Burundi. Members of Asante Mariamu met with the State Department and members of the Senate. They were able to secure an appeal from Sen. Russ Feingold’s office to the Presidents of Tanzania and Burundi. They are also meeting with the Red Cross to learn more about how to create change in this part of the world.

To learn more about Asante Mariamu, visit: www.asante-mariamu.org.