The Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) has put in place a five year strategic plan for protecting persons with albinism in the country.
The purpose of the strategic plan, which will be implemented from this year to 2022, is to serve as a roadmap and a single reference document for the association and its cooperating partners on socio-economic development as well as social protection priorities for persons with albinism (PWAs) in Malawi.
Chairperson for the association Overstone Kondowe said the overriding philosophy of the plan relays on social protection, welfare and development for PWAs through heightened emergency response, realization of full human rights and provision of quality healthcare services.
He said the key areas of the plan focus on social protection, welfare and development which the association intends to take in the next five years to protect persons with albinism from violent attacks, abductions and killings as well as enable them access their rights to development as well as inclusive education.
“These four strategic focus areas will also contribute to the achievement of Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and also accelerate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among PWAs, thereby realizing the importance of sectors of human rights, social and economic development, education, and food security and nutrition,” he said.
The association hopes that the plan is going to bring about peaceful coexistence, cessation of violent attacks, significant reduction in poverty levels as well as improvements in the realization of human rights, thereby making life better for PWAs.
Kondowe added that the process of developing the strategy was participatory in nature, involving selected stakeholders including development partners.
“More importantly, the preparation of the strategy has been members-led and owned, therefore, making it a document for the association,” he said.
The association has since pledged to do everything in its power to protect persons with albinism.
