By Emmanuel Omona PaOkech

The Chairperson  Gulu Deaf Association (GDA) Alex Lawoko has announced plans for the Second intake for Sign Language training opportunity in Gulu district.

Lawoko said that the training which is slated to take 3 months starting from the first of May and Ends on the 30th of July 2013 will be conducted at the Gulu Disabled Person’s Union Play grounds in Pece.

He said that the training targets social workers, media, medical workers, the army and the police officers.

Lawoko also argued that the deaf persons are facing a lot of problems because they do not know sigh language.

He also though did not tell in details alleges that last year, a pregnant woman and her baby died because one of the medical workers in Gulu prescribe a wrong medicine.

Lawoko added that to break the communication barrier and getting an intermediary, many Deaf persons in most cases had to bear the entire cost of engaging a private sign language interpreter in order to access quality health.

There is also discernible discrimination at the health centres bordering on issuance of cards, visiting consulting rooms and access to information on reproductive health education.

Lawoko also thinks that through putting the training the different service providers the sign language training, the Deaf persons could enjoy and exercise their human rights and contribute to social, political, cultural and economic development of the country.

The Chairman Gulu Deaf Association appealed to the Ministry of Health and service providers to support long term sign language interpreters’ training programs sothat the silent ordeal Deaf persons go through in various service centres are addressed.