Nurses and midwives to receive sign language training #rwanda #RwOT

The program was officially inaugurated in Kigali on July 26, 2024, with a focus on promoting inclusive service delivery and the proper use of sign language while interacting with patients with disabilities.

The first cohort of nurses and midwives will commence their training in early 2025, in collaboration with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities in Rwanda (NCPD).

Emmanuel Ndayisaba, Executive Secretary of NCPD, highlighted the importance of having sign language interpreters to bridge communication gaps between deaf patients and healthcare providers.

He noted that these gaps often lead to patients feeling uncomfortable discussing their health issues, which can result in inadequate health care provision.

"We face significant challenges in delivering services to people with disabilities, particularly in the healthcare setup. Patients sometimes struggle to communicate directly with doctors, a situation that should be handled with confidentiality," Ndayisaba explained.

"Reliance on others for interpretation can lead to embarrassment and incomplete communication about health matters," he added.

Caroline Ikiriza, an RNMU staff member, expressed enthusiasm for the training program. As one of the few healthcare workers already fluent in sign language, she is eager to share her expertise with her colleagues.

"We are here to learn so that we can train our peers. This initiative is a vital advocacy effort by RNMU to prepare training sessions for nurses and equip them with sign language skills," Ikiriza said.

RNMU Chairperson André Gitembagara outlined the program's objectives, emphasizing the need to address challenges faced by people with disabilities in healthcare settings, particularly in rural areas where these issues are more pronounced.

"Consider a woman coming to give birth who cannot speak or hear. Providing appropriate care in such cases is a significant challenge for nurses or midwives," Gitembagara said.

"In rural areas, the absence of interpreters further complicates communication with healthcare providers. Additionally, some nurses and midwives themselves have disabilities,' he emphasized.

In 2023, RNMU trained 40 nurses in Kigali who work at patient reception services. The current initiative begins with training national RNMU leaders on inclusive service delivery, with plans to extend the training to district-level RNMU leaders, and eventually to hospital and health center staff.

By the end of 2025, RNMU aims to have 200 nurses and midwives proficient in sign language, with ongoing training efforts planned for subsequent years.

RNMU Chairperson, André Gitembagara, highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure quality service for people with disabilities.

NCPD Executive Secretary, Emmanuel Ndayisaba, noted that individuals with hearing impairments often hesitate to discuss their health issues due to a lack of trust in interpreters.