International Sign Language Day: DWAI takes Health Advocacy to Uni. of Abuja Teaching Hospital
The Albino Foundation Public Notice
The Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) has taken its advocacy University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The visit was part of programmes by the NGO to mark the International Day for sign language, a language used by deaf.
DWAI Executive Director, Mrs. Hellen Beyiokwu-Alasie spoke on the need for the visit and the value of International Sign Language day as stipulated by the United Nations.
“Every September is International Week for sign language for the deaf as stipulated by the United Nations Convention to create awareness on sign language and the deaf.
“This month is set aside for creating awareness on access to health and other issues as related to deaf. For this reason, we in DWAI are happy to visit the University Teaching Hospital to create awareness on deaf women health and reproductive issues.
“Deaf women are like everyone of us, they have health and sexual needs like everyone. Women rights are deaf women rights too.
“Creating access to health is also important for deaf women. Deaf women are limited due to bearers exiting in the health sector.
“Social, societal and attitudinal bearers limit access to health by deaf women.
“We are here today to advocate against these bearers. A doctor attending to a deaf patient need a measure of sign language to communicate effectively with the deaf.
Prof. Bissala Ekele, the Chief medical Director (CMD), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, represented by Umar Khadijat, The Manager, Ante-natal, in response appreciates the visit.
The CMD explained that the hospital staff ensure that no PWD is discriminated against.
Although not having a sign language interpreter, the hospital communicates with deaf through written English.
“Meeting patients with disabilities is not new to us. We in antenatal have hard various contacts with deaf women with excellent results, and safe child birth.
“Your visit is very welcomed by us in this Teaching Hospital, you are all welcome
“We pray that God in his infinite mercies will continue to help us the health workers to keep rendering excellent services to deaf.
“We don’t have this Sign Language Glossary and we will be happy to get copies.
“Although not knowing sign language use written English to communicate to deaf and their families.
“The hospital has a deaf staff whose wife is also deaf.
DWAI handed the hospital copies of the Sign Language Glossary, advocacy tools and souvenirs.
