KABUL (Pajhwok): Some deaf people have complained of the Ministry of Public Health’s failure to promote awareness among them about the coronavirus in sign language.
The ministry has acknowledged the problem, promising effective action to address the issue with a sense of urgency.
Following the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, MoPH announced some guidelines such as handwashing with soup, social distancing, skipping meetings and wearing masks. The guidelines were advertised via audio, video and print messages in a variety of ways.
But some deaf individuals, in interviews with Pajhwok, said they had not yet seen any message in sign language on how to protect themselves from Covid-19.
They say lack of awareness materials in sign language increased the risk of contracting the deadly disease for them and their families.
A teacher at a Kabul-based school for the deaf said no public awareness pamphlets on the coronavirus had been prepared in
sign language.
Providing services to people, he called was the duty of the government: “MoPH should have considered the deaf while preparing public awareness messages on Covid-19, as our families are also at risk of contracting the disease.”
The teacher said he had heard little about the coronavirus from his classmates and family, As a result, he did not know what to do to avoid contracting the deadly disease.
He added all videos about the coronavirus had been released by the media for sound and healthy people, deploring no information had been provided for the deaf.
“Except for a few videos published on the national television in sign language, which was also edited by our instructors, I received no information,” he continued.
Maseeh also called on MoPH to address the problems of the deaf — a large segment od the population – in terms of awareness on the coronavirus.
Farzana, a deaf woman whose father died of coronavirus, told Pajhwok her dad’s death three days he contracted the virus had shell-shocked her.
The woman regretting having no information about the disease until her father died of it. “I had been in touch with my father but could not help him due to lack of information.”.
She asked MoPH to extend to the deaf public awareness packages on the coronavirus disease and provide them information on sign language.
“Initially, I didn’t know the coronavirus could be transmitted through contact with infected hands through the nose, eyes and mouth. I learnt a little bit, too late,” she explained.
“We need to get more information about the coronavirus to protect ourselves, our families and neighbours from this disease. Information packages in the media should also be arranged in sign language,” he added.
Zubair, who is also suffering from hearing impaired, said he had received some information from the media that there was a pandemic in Afghanistan. But I don’t know about guidelines due to lack of public awareness programmes.
“I would still shake the hands of some people for lack of awareness, But people would get away from me. I had no idea why they refused to shake hands with me.
“But now I have learnt a little from friends, classmates and teachers how to protect myself from the coronavirus and strengthen my immune system,” he explained.
He said they needed more information, including image messages in sign language.
Pajhwok interviewed at least 10 deaf people who all held similar views. But the MoPH says public awareness messages about the coronavirus have been created and sent to schools for the deaf. However, sign-language clip are yet to be prepared.
Masuma Jafari, the MoPH spokeswoman, confirmed to Pajhwok that no item promoting public awareness in sign language had been prepared for the deaf.
sa/mud
“This Investigative Report was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Pajhwok and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.”
