The South Sudan National Association of the Deaf commemorated the International Deaf Awareness week on Friday, in Juba.
The International Deaf week started on the 18th of September that was Monday and will run until Saturday 23rd this week, this year’s theme is “Access to Communication and Building Inclusive Deaf Community for all.”
The Central Equatoria Minister of Gender and Social Welfare, Huda Mika Lila encouraged deaf and the visually impaired persons to have hope in their lives and continue striving for their opportunities.
The Minister said she is hopeful that next year’s national budget will allocate some money to support the establishment of their Center in Central Equatoria State.
She emphasised the use of sign language in every public gathering such as workshops, government functions, and national TV to help deaf persons understand what is being communicated which will make them also feel inclusive in society.
Minister Huda Mika suggested that sign language should be in several schools to help train many translators in sign language to improve communication among the deaf and other people.
Partners like, Light Christian Blind Mission (cbm) who have been supportive of the South Sudan National Association of the Deaf including the Central Equatoria Government graced the colourful event.
Light for the World Advocacy officer, Nema Juma reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting people with special needs by providing sign language learning books.
Early this week, the chairperson of the Association of the Deaf Peter Kachinga urged government and non-governmental organisations in South Sudan to support them in educating more people with sign language to ease communication for the deaf.
While starting International Deaf Awareness Week, the chairperson declared the week only for collecting garbages around Juba to impress citizens that the deaf can also do great work like any other citizen of the country.