Murder of People With Albinism In Tanzania/East Africa; Is Anything Changing?

Mariamu Staford first shared her tragic story with ABC's 20/20 in 2009; she was mutilated by hunters all because she had albinism. She told how, at 5 months pregnant, she was unaware of the danger she faced one late night at home. Men came into her house with machetes and chopped her arms off and caused her to lose her unborn child. Staford ultimately received a great amount of progressive care in the U.S that included receiving artificial limbs that will assist her with everyday living.

Shockingly, these hunters believe that albino body parts bring wealth and that a person with albinisim is generally a bad omen. They viciously come into their homes, cut their body parts and then sell them on Africa's black market between $500 to $2000, ABC News reports.

Sadly, not much has changed since Mariamu's attack. More needs to be done to protect these people in Africa who suffer the constant threat of attack or even death simply because of their albinism.

Here's a link with the situation a few years ago in Africa: http: //abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5331015&page=1#.Ub5fqHco5Ag


Here's a link with more information on albinism & the current status of people with albinism under attack in Tanzania/East Africa: http://runfreetobe.com/albinism-africa/