Meet the 'Children of the Moon': Panama villages' albinos make up 10 percent of population

Albino's must stay out of the sun.

Mythologically believed to be descendants of the sun, as its "grandchildren," albinos must be kept away from the sun as it can cause them a painful, slow death. With sensitive skin and eyes, they are physically endangered by the sun. Albino children only get to experience the fun to run around and play at night, giving them the nickname "Children of the Moon." Experts estimate that the albinos make up 10 percent of the indigenous Guna population in Panama.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The traditionally known "Grandchildren of the Sun," due to their pale eyes and alabaster skin, only go out of their homes if the sun has already set and the dark sky looms over.

Their bodies are extremely sensitive to the rays; they have to be constantly protected, otherwise they may contract the similar diseases as their elders and ancestors, including the skin cancer.

According to some experts, there are hundreds of them living with the indigenous Guna of Panama, who treat them with love and respect.

One in every 150 Guna children is born albino, said the founder of the local S.O.S Albino organization, Pascale Jeambrun, according to The Daily Mail.

Globally, it is believed that there is one albino born for every 17,000. However, it is alarming to learn that more than half of those in the region suffer from skin cancer, as opposed to less than 1 percent worldwide in World Health Organization's records.

"Until there's a good cancer prevention campaign focused on the Guna, or a dermatology center there, the problem is going to keep getting worse for the Guna albinos," said the head of Dermatology at the National Oncology Institute in Panama City, Rosa Espana.

She reported that she sees about three albinos in her clinic every week.

Although the number of the older albinos dying from skin cancer has been increasing, the ministry of health in Panama does not keep tally of the actual amount, according to Reuters.

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