Albinism: Gerald Connolly Fights For Mariamu Staford

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LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- Mariamu Staford became a symbol for albinos all over the globe when her story was revealed in last year’s episode of ‘20/20′ on ABC. On Friday night, the network revisited the case and showed the immense positive impact that the coverage brought to the cause of the people with albinism. ABC correspondent Juju Chang documented the heartwarming yet shocking story of the woman who lost her arms due to blind superstitions of the people around her.

Mariamu Staford had recounted in the last year’s episode her horrific ordeal when people entered her house in the middle of the night to hack off her arms from her body. The fact that some of the communities in East Africa believe that the body parts of the albinos have healing properties. As many as 60 people have been reportedly killed in the attacks and Mariamu Staford is one of the rare survivors of the attack. In the episode congressman Gerald Connolly was seen to be moved by the plight of the people in East Africa suffering from albinism. Within three months of his meeting with Mariamu Staford the cause hit the congress floor. With a clear majority, the House passed a resolution that condemned the attacks on the people with albinism and also called for swift action to out an end to the torture and the murders.

With Gerard Connolly’s help, not only did the people of America sit up and take notice of the atrocities against the people with albinism but also realized the impact that the ABC broadcast had in the lives of the albinos living in Africa. Mariamu Staford was also showed getting a new lease of life that she was fitted with on her visit to Africa.