Health experts have urged government to introduce sign language interpreters in health facilities in order to help persons with hearing impairments.
The call was made recently by William Onyai, the Gulu district Health Educator during a one day training of health workers convened by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHAU) from Gulu City Health Offices in Pece-Laroo division.
Onyai notes that persons with hearing impairments normally experience difficulties in expressing themselves properly each time they visit health facilities.
Onyai also calls on both private and public health facilities to provide necessary infrastructure that can enable persons with disabilities receive proper care.
He further appeals to parents and care givers of persons with disabilities to take them for treatment at recognized health facilities whenever they are sick as opposed to keeping them home.
Justine Kamakune, the Regional Program Officer for SHAU Uganda says persons with disabilities still face numerous challenges in accessing health care adding that government and health workers must prioritize giving them all the necessary support.
She says that cases of children born with Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus are still common urging expectant mothers to always conduct antenatal care and listen to the advice from health workers.
By Patrick Uma
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