NEWS

Albino children: New limbs, new hope

Emmanuel Rutema, Kabula Masanja, Pendo Noni, Mwigulu Magesa and Baraka Lusambo watch the Revlon live camera with a crowd of other tourists during a visit to Times Square in New York July 28. People with the genetic condition of albinism, characterized by a lack of pigment, are often referred to in Tanzania as ghosts, or zero zero, which in Swahili signifies someone who is less than human.
Emmanuel Rutema, Kabula Masanja, Pendo Noni, Mwigulu Magesa and Baraka Lusambo watch the Revlon live camera with a crowd of other tourists during a visit to Times Square in New York July 28. People with the genetic condition of albinism, characterized by a lack of pigment, are often referred to in Tanzania as ghosts, or zero zero, which in Swahili signifies someone who is less than human.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Emmanuel Rutema, 13, of Tanzania, with the hereditary condition albinism, draws a picture on a clipboard before of his surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. The lack of pigments in parts of the eyes causes vision difficulties.
Emmanuel Rutema, 13, of Tanzania, with the hereditary condition albinism, draws a picture on a clipboard before of his surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. The lack of pigments in parts of the eyes causes vision difficulties.
Matt Rourke, AP
Mwigulu Magesa blows up a beach ball while playing on a beach in Long Beach Island, N.J. on July 22, 2015.
Mwigulu Magesa blows up a beach ball while playing on a beach in Long Beach Island, N.J. on July 22, 2015.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Monica Watson, right, with the Global Medical Relief Fund, plays with Mwigulu Magesa, 12, left, and Emmanuel Rutema, 13, during a fitting for prosthetic limbs at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Witch doctors often lead brutal attacks in Tanzania to use albino body parts in potions they claim bring riches.
Monica Watson, right, with the Global Medical Relief Fund, plays with Mwigulu Magesa, 12, left, and Emmanuel Rutema, 13, during a fitting for prosthetic limbs at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Witch doctors often lead brutal attacks in Tanzania to use albino body parts in potions they claim bring riches.
Matt Rourke, AP
Lance Harms, left, and Luis Velasquez fit Kabula Masanja, 17, for a prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital
Lance Harms, left, and Luis Velasquez fit Kabula Masanja, 17, for a prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital
Matt Rourke, AP
Monica Watson of the Global Medical Relief Fund holds the hand of Baraka Lusambo, 5, of Tanzania during a fitting for a prosthetic limb.
Monica Watson of the Global Medical Relief Fund holds the hand of Baraka Lusambo, 5, of Tanzania during a fitting for a prosthetic limb.
Matt Rourke, AP
Monica Watson applies sunscreen to Baraka Lusambo of Tanzania before he and four other children with albinism enter a swimming pool for the first time in their lives during a visit to a home in Oyster Bay, N.Y., on Monday, July 20, 2015.
Monica Watson applies sunscreen to Baraka Lusambo of Tanzania before he and four other children with albinism enter a swimming pool for the first time in their lives during a visit to a home in Oyster Bay, N.Y., on Monday, July 20, 2015.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Pendo Noni, 15, of Tanzania is fitted for prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Noni was attacked and dismembered in Tanzania because of a belief that her body parts will bring wealth.
Pendo Noni, 15, of Tanzania is fitted for prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Noni was attacked and dismembered in Tanzania because of a belief that her body parts will bring wealth.
Matt Rourke, AP
Emmanuel Rutema examines his right arm after surgery to attach one of his toes to his hand. Rutema and four other children also with albinism are in the U.S. to receive free surgery and prostheses at the hospital. One out of every 1,400 citizens in Tanzania has albinism.
Emmanuel Rutema examines his right arm after surgery to attach one of his toes to his hand. Rutema and four other children also with albinism are in the U.S. to receive free surgery and prostheses at the hospital. One out of every 1,400 citizens in Tanzania has albinism.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Baraka Lusambo, 5, of Tanzania reaches to touch Monica Watson during a fitting for a prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
Baraka Lusambo, 5, of Tanzania reaches to touch Monica Watson during a fitting for a prosthetic limb at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
Matt Rourke, AP
Emmanuel Rutema, 13, of Tanzania laughs with Elissa Montanti, founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund, and interpreter Ester Rwela ahead of his surgery at the Shriners Hospital.
Emmanuel Rutema, 13, of Tanzania laughs with Elissa Montanti, founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund, and interpreter Ester Rwela ahead of his surgery at the Shriners Hospital.
Matt Rourke, AP
Elissa Montanti gives Mwigulu Magesa a kiss as he celebrates his 12th birthday with Emmanuel Rutema, left, Baraka Lusambo, foreground right, Kabula Masanja, second from right, and Pendo Noni in New York on July 1. The children were attacked and dismembered in the belief that their body parts will bring wealth.
Elissa Montanti gives Mwigulu Magesa a kiss as he celebrates his 12th birthday with Emmanuel Rutema, left, Baraka Lusambo, foreground right, Kabula Masanja, second from right, and Pendo Noni in New York on July 1. The children were attacked and dismembered in the belief that their body parts will bring wealth.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Mwigulu Magesa holds a water toy between his body and his amputated left arm while playing on a beach in Long Beach Island, N.J., on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Mwigulu was attacked and dismembered in Tanzania because of a belief that his body parts will bring wealth.
Mwigulu Magesa holds a water toy between his body and his amputated left arm while playing on a beach in Long Beach Island, N.J., on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Mwigulu was attacked and dismembered in Tanzania because of a belief that his body parts will bring wealth.
Julie Jacobson, AP
Five-year-old Baraka Lusambo shows Emmanuel Rutema how a toy works in New York on Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
Five-year-old Baraka Lusambo shows Emmanuel Rutema how a toy works in New York on Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
Julie Jacobson, AP