White African Albinos Visit Holy Orthodox Mission in West Africa!
By John Tsambazis, Special to ASSIST News Service
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (ANS – August 4, 2105)
– The Rev. Themi Adams, a former rock star, who found Christ and is now
a Greek Orthodox missionary in Ebola-hit Sierra Leone, is now facing a
new challenge.
Themi was formerly a member of
Australian rock group, The Flies, and once shared the stage with the
Rolling Stones and the Beatles, became a missionary after a dramatic
conversion, has been facing the greatest challenge of his life – Ebola —
which is killed at least 3,900 people in Sierra Leone.
Until recently, he has bravely
refused to leave The Holy Orthodox Mission in his adopted country,
preferring to stay at his post to help his people protect themselves
from Ebola, rather than take a break in Australia.
Following this calamitous event
in his life, Fr. Themi has taken on a new challenge by offering support
to “White African” Albinos, who many believe are the outcasts of
African society.
He is taking care of group of
Albinos at his mission, who are demanding equal rights and asking the
government for jobs and scholarships to help them fight marginalization,
as on Friday, the Sierra Leone Albino Association was launched to help
them fight marginalization and defend their rights.
Albinism is a congenital lack
of the melanin pigment in the skin, eyes and hair which protects from
the sun’s ultraviolet. Albinos are vulnerable to medical complications
as well as social discrimination across Africa.
At an inaugural meeting
attended by more than 300 people, the Sierra Leone Albino Association
(SLAA) said Albinos in the West African country were “facing
stigmatization, marginalization and harassment.”
Since late 2007, more than 60
Albinos, including many children, have been killed, their limbs hacked
off and sold to witch doctors who concoct charms their clients believe
will make them rich and powerful.
The government in Sierra Leone has no records indicating how many Albinos live in the country.
Amnesty International’s Solomon
Sogbandi said the rights group was ready to “provide an enabling
environment for their cause and act as a pressure group on government to
ensure their social and human rights are enhanced.”
When he heard of their plight, Brother Themi Adams said that he could
not help but recognize the need to help on this occasion. His peaceful
activism and quiet humanitarian spirit could not get the better of him
and he offered support.
Rev Themi said: “No they are
not Europeans visiting our Mission in Sierra Leone (West Africa). They
are indigenous Sierra Leoneans who happen to be Albinos (white skinned
Africans).
He added: “Albinos not only
suffer severe social isolation, discrimination and provocations but also
experience associated physical ailments - extreme skin sensitivity to
sunrays leading to infections and even cancer. They may also be
afflicted with low vision or blindness. In Tanzania they are actually
hunted and killed for witchcraft purposes.”
Albinos live with the risk of
being killed, their body parts fetching high prices for witchcraft - but
hope that change is coming.
The
Rev Themi's has been featuring their sad situation on his Facebook
page, which has received many comments. They have included:
Vicki Christofi, who said; “As
if life is not difficult enough, it is shocking to read of what added
suffrage these individuals endure on account of discrimination. I had no
idea, and pray that mindsets shift”.
And Nadine Abwi said; “Lord have mercy on them! God bless you Father”.
Last year, Mr. Peter Tayoung,
the Chief Executive Officer of the International Business Communications
Advisory Services and Training [IBCAST], maintained that the sufferings
that Albinos are undergoing in Sierra Leone are common to Albinos all
over the world. He therefore urged Sierra Leoneans to intensify the
fight against discrimination of Albinos, and he described Sierra Leone
as a “jewel” when he heard that the country has gained liberty.
Themi Adams also said: “Our
Orthodox Mission here will seek to assist them in some basic ways
through the blessings of Christ. I ask that you pray for their welfare
and protection”.
Brother Themi is finally on his
way back to Australia for the first time in nearly 3 years. He spent
these past few years protecting his mission from the Ebola crisis. He
has since set up Clinics and Orphanages to accommodate the families that
were affected by the crisis, luckily they all have survived with God’s
help.
Ebola Vaccine at Last!
It
was announced recently that Ebola vaccine tests conducted by the World
Health Organization (WHO) in West Africa (Guinea) have proven to be 100%
effective against the deadly virus.
“If that is truly the case then
this will come as a great relief for us living in Ebola ground zero,”
said Fr. Themi. “Thanks be to God!”
Fr. Themi has been working with Paradise 4 Kids (http://paradise4kids.org/)
and if log on you can be kept up to date with his movements and
itinerary of when and where he will be near you. P4K are planning a
number of functions and fundraiser in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Photo captions: 1) Albino
children visit the mission. 2) Fr. Themi has been involved in a healing
ministry. 3) Fr. Themi with gloves for his staff. 4) John Tsambazis.
About
the writer: John Tsambazis is an award winning editor/producer with
numerous credits underneath his belt in feature films, documentaries, TV
shows and news and current affairs, both in Australia and abroad. John
is a professional member of the Australian Academy of Cinema and
Television Arts, and sits on the jury. He is executive of his production
company “Clapstick Pictures” and is currently overseeing a couple of
high profile projects in pre-production. He can be contacted by e-mail
at jtsambazis@yahoo.com.
** You may republish this and any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
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