Persons with hearing and speaking loss have requested authorities to provide sign language training to healthcare providers to tackle existing communication barriers.

This, they said, would ease seeking for medical services.

The community claims lack of proper and effective communication access within the medical chain, lack of privacy between deaf patients and healthcare givers, as a third party must be included for interpretation.

According to statistics from Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD), over 70,000 people have hearing and speech loss in the country.

Absence of health information and communication access for the community, poses risk to their health, among other obstacles.

"Due to inequity and audism, deaf people, particularly deaf women and girls are at a higher risk for adverse health outcomes compared to people without hearing loss,” Executive Director of Rwanda National Association of Deaf Women (RNADW), Dative Mukashema, said.

She added that, with healthcare access, we need to call for attention on how one simple factor exacerbates health inequities and healthcare barriers for those living with hearing loss in Rwanda.

"Healthcare professionals deal with patients from all types of cultures and backgrounds, and they need to be well-versed in understanding their patients’ needs,” she said.

According to the consulting sign language interpreter at RNADW, Gerald Mutema, people with hearing loss, who communicate especially in Rwandan Sign Language (RSL) do not have access to clear and efficient communication in the healthcare system, which deprives them of critical health information and qualified health care.

Studies show that deaf patients, compared to hearing patients, make less frequent visits to their primary care provider and make more trips to the emergency room, which is likely due to the lack of communication access.

Way forward

Mukashema said people with hearing loss have been taking part in national and international events, which increased the need for sign language interpretation services, therefore, appropriate forms of assistance, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters to secure accessibility, need to be provided.

"Access to RSL is key to breaking down communication barriers and participating in society like anyone else. As such, a law recognising RSL is of paramount importance to the human rights of the deaf people in Rwanda,” she said.

Mukashema further said, by understanding the language, you are opening up the lines of communication with children and adults who have hearing loss, and providing quality service.

According to the President of the Rwanda Nurses and Midwives Union (RNMU), Andre Gitembagara, they have already identified the issue and so far, about 50 of healthcare givers have received basic knowledge in sign language, including midwives and nurses from University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) and a few healthcare givers from different healthcare centres in Kigali.

"We are in touch with RNUD planning for a big project to train as many healthcare givers as possible in sign language,” Gitembagara said.

RNMU hopes to get at least about 80% of midwives and nurses in the country trained in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to facilitate the program.

The union also requests sign language to be integrated in medical and health courses, for learners to at least come with basic knowledge in sign language.

Yvette Umuhire, a General Practitioner, said access to sign language will facilitate healthcare givers to provide inclusive service to all patients and promote good health. "This should also go to all service providers in all aspects of life.”