NETWORKING WITH CHESHIRE SERVICE UGANDA
Children with albinism remain a very vulnerable group in society. Their lively hood and safety rests on the goodwill of well-wishers and family. This group of individuals suffer pro-discriminate syndrome that is their lives are predefined before they actually engage with the realities of their environment.
In a bid to build unique network linkages and create an even platform for children with albinism, Albinism Umbrella together with Cheshire Services. Uganda had an engagement to brainstorm how they can build partnerships that will empower people with albinism and their sustainability.
Cheshire Services Uganda is a local non-organization working to uplift the lives of People with disabilities through four thematic areas of education, livelihood, health and advocacy. Currently they are implementing the girl’s education challenge transition project in the greater Kampala, to support children with disabilities to transition through the education cycle in Uganda.
At the interaction held at Albinism Umbrella offices in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb, different issues on eye impairment were deliberated on and explained to parents and students by opticians from one of Uganda’s best eye hospitals, Mengo hospital.
Most people with Albinism suffer from low vision a condition that occurs in only two ways Myopic where a person is unable to see distant objects clearly, commonly referred to as “near-sighted, and Hyperopic where a person is unable to see close objects clearly, commonly referred to as “far-sighted.” and need vision aids like spectacles even if they do not have a re-fracture error, they still need sun glasses to protect them from sun rays. Says Dr. Sepwama Joseph, Head of our vision department Mengo hospital.
According to Olive Namutebi the Executive Director, Albinism Umbrella Through this initiative, they were able to learn and unlearn different concepts on eye impairments suffered by persons with Albinism.
Different persons with Albinism shared their visual story and issues associated with how they deal with it at school.
Last modified: February 8, 2024
