Persons with hearing impairment in Arua City are struggling to access health care as most health facilities lack sign language interpreters to bridge communication with medical staff. The challenge, they say, poses risks of wrong prescriptions and has discouraged some from seeking services altogether.
Records from the Arua City Association of the Deaf show that there are only four professionally trained sign language interpreters in the city, and 30 in the entire West Nile sub-region, making it difficult to deploy them across all facilities.
Twalib Ali Ayub, a member of the association, said persons with hearing impairment continue to face challenges while seeking services in facilities without interpreters. He added that the problem is worsened by negative attitudes from some health workers.
“Yes, people with hearing impairment have reported many cases to our office. They face difficulties accessing health care due to limited communication from health workers, lack of a sign language interpreter, and sometimes negative attitudes from the health workers themselves,” Twalib said via an online messaging app.
To narrow the communication gap, Action for Transformation of Youths with Disabilities conducted a three-month basic sign language training for health workers. Similarly, Sign Health Uganda (SHU) trained and deployed interpreters at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, making it the only facility in the city with trained interpreters to attend to the deaf community.
Mercy Monica Ocotoko, a member of Arua City Union of Persons with Disabilities, said the situation at the referral hospital has improved, but gaps remain at lower health facilities.
She noted that the Outpatients Department and maternity ward are the most difficult sections for deaf patients, as these require strict adherence to instructions during diagnosis and delivery. Denise Tumusiime, a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission, recently revealed that the commission has started research to ensure public service points recruit sign language interpreters for inclusivity.
Uganda’s revised National Policy on Persons with Disabilities (2023), under Chapter Six, emphasizes protection of persons with disabilities against abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and prioritizes access to goods, services, and facilities. Stakeholders in Arua are now calling for continuous awareness campaigns and training programs to change negative attitudes and ensure health care is accessible to all, regardless of disability.
