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Meet Wanswekula Zacharia alias Miss Dorah, the jovial short stature actor from Tanzania.
She has turned 27 years old, and she says that it is a miracle that she is still alive today due to suffering from sickle cell disease in her childhood, and until today, she lives with the scars of the disease.
“When I started to understand life, I found myself that I was not as tall as other children, and until now my appearance seems to have a much smaller body than normal women of my age, but I have accepted the way I am and I strive every day to live my life to the fullest,” she said.
Dorah has participated in many drama games in Tanzania including Kapuni and Juakali which made her more popular.
In the play Juakali, She says that she accepted, acting in a role that touches her life at least to some extent to show the world the suffering she went through, exclusion and stigmatization.
“I really don’t see a problem if people can learn through my real life, because I believe that it will educate and give hope to at least one person,” she added.
Dorah is using her nature and her talent not only in acting but also to give advice and be a good role model for children who are born with physical limitations.
“I will educate people, I will show people that a human being created by almighty God has the ability to change you, for example being stigmatized by society and many, but today Dorah has stood up and has been like a mirror in society despite many challenges”.
According to the experts on Blood Cell issues, Sickle Cell is a hereditary red blood cell problem where there is a shortage of these blood cells to transport oxygen around the whole body.