At 27 years old, one would think Wanswekula Zacharia aka Miss Dorah is just another primary school going girl because of her small body structure.
Wanswekula is however an actress that has made a name for herself in Tanzania. She looks small because she is suffering from sickle cell anemia and it is a miracle that she is still alive today.
The actress has been battling the condition since her childhood. During her early stages of life, her poor family was not aware that she was suffering from sickle cell but was lucky to receive treatment that stabilized her with the help of well-wishers who also ensured that she was able to complete her studies.
The disease made her stunted such that she can’t grow in height or body size and she looks tinier than any woman of 27 years old.
“When I began understanding life, I discovered that my height was not growing like other children. Until now I look very small as compared to women my age but I accepted that and every day I am working hard to live a complete life,” Zacharia said in an interview with BBC.
According to her, growing up like that was not easy as she faced a lot of stigma and negative energy from those surrounding her.
“There is no one who would love to be different from another, we all wish to be equal so it hurts every time when some people look at me as a child, it hurts so much because I have a grown up’s mind. I have rights just like any other woman,” the Wanswekula noted.
For the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we continue celebrating women in the creatives industry across East Africa. Meet Wanswekula Zacharia ‘Dorah’, an actress from #Tanzania. #IDEVAW #16Days pic.twitter.com/762zrcGyJY
— Luke Williams (@AusHCKenya) December 4, 2021
The signs and symptoms of sickles begin showing at the age of five months. They may differ depending with individuals and change with time.
Some of the major signs include; shortage of blood, pain, fatigue and infections. The disease is treated through blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant.
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