Govt works to increase sign language inclusion
THE Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed that Government is in the process of crafting framework that will see more inclusion of sign language in its departments.
Minister Mutsvangwa said after the recent census, over 1,2 million people in the country have disabilities and Government was concerned about their wellbeing. She said as a result of these findings, it has been resolved that a survey will be carried out to find out their exact needs to allow Government to come with ways to assist them.
“When the census report was released, Government noted that over 1,2 million Zimbabweans were living with disabilities. We then resolved to find out their exact needs and find ways to make sure that we can assist them.
Sign language is one of the key areas that Government is looking into. It is our wish as Government that sign language becomes as prominent as all the other languages especially within our departments,” she added.
Recently, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda challenged Government to consider employing health workers who are sign language proficient in every shift at health facilities across the country.
Sign language is now part of the 16 languages recognised by the Constitution of the Zimbabwe under Section 6 with human rights activists calling on Government to ensure its promotion.
National Council for Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe vice-chairperson Ms Octavia Phiri is on record as saying while sign language education programmes sought to address among other things communication barriers, more still needed to be done by stakeholders to ensure inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities across all facets of life.
A few years ago, the Ministry of Health and Child Care embarked on a drive to teach selected nurses sign language countrywide as a way of addressing problems faced by patients with hearing and speech impairment. The development saw 30 nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals being trained.