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Malawi's Albinos Get Personal Security Alarms But Will They Help?

Lameck Masina

   LILONGWE, MALAWI - Malawi is distributing personal security alarms to
   people with albinism, a condition that causes whitening of the skin
   from lack of pigmentation. Malawi authorities hope the alarms will
   protect albinos from attacks by people who believe their body parts
   have magical powers. But the alarms have only a limited range, raising
   doubts about their effectiveness.

   Vendor Chipiliro Laston was nearly abducted in March by three men
   pretending to be police officers.

   The men said they were searching houses of villagers suspected of
   keeping albino body parts, which are used across East Africa for
   so-called "black magic."

   Laston was saved when the men failed to produce identity cards and
   villagers handed them over to the real police.

   Speaking about the incident, Laston said "I realized that I can be
   killed any day because of the way those people came. I was extremely
   terrified, and I realized that I am being stalked. So, since that time,
   I still live in fear."