The danger threatens albinos in countries such as Tanzania, Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya. They are often discriminated against outside Africa, for example, in Jamaica. In addition to the human threat, albinos suffer from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, so it is also dangerous for their health to live in equatorial and mountainous countries.
Human threat
One of the most dangerous countries for albinos is Tanzania. Despite the fact that in this African country the majority of people profess the world's monotheistic religions such as Christianity and Islam, Tanzanians believe in witchcraft and Voodoo.
Local wizards and healers claim that magical potions become more powerful if they contain body parts of an albino. It is because of such beliefs that persecution and murder are carried out. There are many albino hunters in Tanzania.
Often, parents sell their albino children to local sorcerers, such a child can be kidnapped by the neighbors of the family. If this does not happen, then it is almost impossible for an adult albino to communicate with other people, his life is in constant danger.
The Tanzanian government is working hard to combat discrimination and killings of albinos. However, there is still a long way to go before the complete elimination of prejudice in society.
Albinos are also being attacked in Burundi, Congo and Kenya. Often people are forcibly dragged out of their homes and dismembered right in the yard. Hair and limbs are especially prized, so sometimes an albino is not killed, but severely mutilated.
It is not only the cult of witchcraft that pushes people to kill. African magicians pay big money to those who sell them body parts of albinos.
Natural threat
There is also a natural threat to albinos. Melanin, which is absent in albinos, protects the average person from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. As a result, albinos suffer from skin cancer - melanoma. And also eye diseases. Ultraviolet radiation is radiation, and like any other radioactive effect, it activates the growth of cancerous tumors.
In countries located along the equator and in mountainous areas, the effects of ultraviolet radiation are especially great. Even a short exposure to sunlight causes burns on the skin and retina.
Equator countries include: Somalia, Kenya, Congo, Uganda, Gabon, Indonesia, Colombia, Ecuador. Mountainous countries are Switzerland, Canada, Italy, China, India, etc.
As you can see, among the equatorial countries there are the same countries where albinos are threatened with reprisals from people. And it is in Africa that the highest birth rate of children with a genetic disorder of melanin production.
In Europe, America and Asia, there are fewer albinos, they are not discriminated against and adapt to avoid exposure to sunlight.
