Lobby groups Advocate for Sign Language Inclusion in Schools
HealthX Africa, a pioneering provider of primary healthcare, has advocated for the implementation of sign language in schools.
It states that the transformative initiative aims to eliminate barriers and promote inclusive healthcare access for individuals with hearing loss in Kenya.
On Wednesday at the Panafric Hotel, HealthX Africa CEO Roy Bore announced that the organization has taken a step toward promoting equitable access to comprehensive primary healthcare services for Kenyans with disabilities.
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Bore stated that people living with disabilities have faced significant disadvantages in accessing preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare for an extended period of time.
Tim Wanyonyi, a Westlands representative, stated that people with disabilities find it difficult to access universal healthcare and that they should also be accommodated.
Wanyonyi emphasized that achieving Universal Health Care would be challenging without a specific focus on individuals with disabilities.
Bright Oywaya, executive director of the Association for Safe International Road Travel in Kenya, stated that individuals with disabilities have difficulty gaining access to hospital transportation.
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Reaching a hospital via public transport presents challenges for individuals with disabilities. This renders the trip to a healthcare facility more arduous and costly than for the typical Kenyan.
According to the 2019 census, 11.4% of Kenyans have hearing impairments, while 8% struggle with impairments pertaining to communication.
These substantial numbers emphasize the need for tailored healthcare solutions for this population.
In the past, people with disabilities in Kenya have faced a variety of obstacles when pursuing healthcare services.
These obstacles include issues with physical accessibility to healthcare facilities, communication deficits with healthcare providers, and the burden of enduring social stigmas.
Healthcare providers lack training in sign language and other forms of communication assistance. This has also contributed to incomplete medical histories and misunderstandings.
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Lobby groups Advocate for Sign Language Inclusion in Schools
