Marie Jeanne Mushimiyimana, a resident of Gisozi Sector in Gasabo District, is one of the mothers raising children with albinism in Rwanda who face various challenges from the moment their children are born. After giving birth to her first child via C-section at Kabgayi Hospital in 2016, she experienced deep emotional distress and pressure from medical staff, her partner, and his family.
She says she found herself in isolation after her partner abandoned her at the hospital, blaming her for giving birth to a child who looked different. Instead of receiving support and compassion as a new mother, Mushimiyimana was met with rejection, devaluation, and silence from her partner’s relatives, none of whom came to see the baby.
Despite enduring her partner’s hostility, she continued to live with him until he left for good when their first child turned one. When she later found out she was pregnant again, she prayed that the second child would also be born with albinism, fearing the rumors and speculation that might arise if the child looked different.
Mushimiyimana is now a mother of four, three of whom have albinism. All her children are registered under her name only, as their father has never accepted responsibility. She has played a strong role in protecting her children, giving them love, and shielding them from the discrimination that often follows people with albinism.
As the years go by, her story highlights the serious stigma and injustice faced by families raising children with albinism in Rwanda. In addition to being rejected by partners or relatives, these mothers often struggle with poverty, lack of housing, and denial of basic rights.
