Lack of sign language interpreters curtailing health service delivery in Gulu

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Gulu district is operating without sign language interpreters to help patients with hearing impairment who seek healthcare services at the different government health facilities within the district. 

As a result, this is proving hard for both the patients and medical care providers to communicate effectively.

Gulu district health officer Dr Kenneth Cana told Radio Rupiny that the district health department had liaised with the district disabled persons’ union to train the health workers on sign language but the six–month programme flopped and they are currently making arraignment to resume.



Meanwhile, in Gulu City, most of the patients with hearing impairment go to health facilities with caretakers who help them in communicating with the health workers. However, sometimes the health workers wrongly diagnose them in case they move without caretakers, according to Gulu city health officer Dr Daniel Okello.



Okello appealed to the Government to recruit sign language interpreters and deploy them to government institutions like health facilities since they are accessed by many persons with hearing impairment.