A deaf-friendly healthcare revolution

By Robert Mutasi

The move by the Ministry of Health to improve access to health care for the deaf and dumb in Nairobi is a revolution in the delivery of health services to the country's deaf population.

This commitment came after negotiations between Secretary-General Mary Mutoni and the Nairobi Association for the Deaf (Nad) underscored the need to shift to inclusion in health care.

One of the best programs is the program for equipping district hospitals with brain-driven audiometry equipment (BERA). These diagnostic tools are useful for diagnosing hearing problems, but their access is limited, often due to the high cost and insufficient supply.

By allocating these services and making them available, the ministry aims to reduce the financial burden of the deaf, ensuring that diagnostic services do not have luxury, but a common offer in public health. This, coupled with the BERA testing that is incorporated in the SHA, fundamentally changes the situation.

This not only democratises access to basic health care but also dovetails with the broader goal of global health coverage.

This will be an effort to remove financial barriers that, throughout history, have barred the deaf population from getting timely and accurate diagnoses.

It is also commendable that the Ministry has paid special attention to Unified employment in the health sector. In this way, creating employment for the Deaf, the Ministry not only increases diversity but also ensures that the health system will tap into the unique opportunities and skills professionals who are deaf bring about.

These collective workers can understand the special needs of the Deaf community and respond properly, creating a realistic healthcare environment.

The ministry's support for the upcoming World Federation of the Deaf Conference once again underlines its commitment to dialogue and international cooperation.

The event will provide a forum for discussing issues affecting the deaf communities around the world and will also enhance Kenya's leadership in promoting deaf rights and inclusion on the global platform.

But the plans of the ministry should just be a starting point for a wider and more coherent effort. Long-term success depends on the continuation of collaboration with the Deaf community, standardized program assessment, and adaptation policies.

A good sign is NAD hope, and the role of sustainable cooperation and open dialogue will be very instrumental in overcoming the special challenges that are put before the Deaf community.

Finally, I would say that the proactive actions of the Ministry of Health are the crucial step toward the creation of an integrated health system.

Addressing such crucial issues as cognitive access, financial constraints, and employment opportunities, the Ministry opens the path to a just future where the Deaf will get their due share of services and support.