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Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Gulu District COVID-19 Taskforce is using sign language experts to sensitize persons with hearing impairment in the district.
This comes after the district leaders representing persons living with disabilities complained about excluding the deaf during the sensitization on COVID -19.
Charles Arum, one of the sign language interpreters revealed that they move with health workers in the district who speak about the pandemic, preventive measures and its impact as they interpret it to the disabled.
Jackie Kyomuhendo, another sign language interpreter says that before the district Taskforce’s intervention, she had already taken a personal initiative to sensitize seven persons with hearing impairment.
She revealed that among the 90 persons with hearing impairment sensitized, some had an idea about the pandemic but knew very little about it while others were ignorant.
Gloria Aloyo, the Gulu District Communication Officer who is also the spokesperson for Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce told URN in an interview that currently, four sign language experts are executing the task.
According to Aloyo, the sign language interpreters have so far sensitized a total of 90 persons with the hearing impairment in the district.
William Ongai, Gulu District Health Educator who also doubles as the Gulu the Chairperson of Risk Communication under the district Taskforce says the sign language experts traverse all the areas mapped to sensitize people on the pandemic.
The 2019 headcount of persons living with disability in Gulu District indicates that out of a total of 32,259 persons living with a disability, there are 2,124 with hearing impairment.
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