« Changes prompt deaf residents to sound off | Main | Deaf dog Scooby still stuck in cave after five days »
September 23, 2009
Lifeline plea for deaf patients
All of Bahrain's medical centres and hospitals could soon have dedicated staff to deal with deaf patients. An MP hopes this would further integrate Bahrainis with disabilities in the community and allow them further independence.
Sign language should also be introduced in some of the shows broadcast by local TV, said MP Dr Salah Ali.
He said that he sent a letter to Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer, stressing the need for each medical centre to have at least one employee who knows sign language to assist the deaf.
Dr Ali said deaf people would have a better understanding of their health condition and will be more independent by not relying on someone else to translate.
"This way the health staff can communicate with deaf patients and understand their medical condition," he said.
"This is also vital for them to overcome any misunderstanding of their condition."
The MP also sent a letter to Information and Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, calling for introducing sign language in TV programmes.
"Having sign language on Bahrain TV is a given right for these citizens, they deserve to know what's going on in their country like everyone else," he said.
"They need to be connected to the community and provided with the latest news."
The initiatives follow a meeting between Dr Ali and Bahrain Society for the Deaf president Mahdi Al Nuaimi to shed light on their needs and to be included in future development plans.
Mr Al Nuaimi urged members of the public to place themselves in deaf people's shoes and imagine navigating a medical centre without being able to hear.
"The first encounter is when the patient is called, a deaf person will not be able to hear his name being called and therefore will miss the appointment," he told the GDN.
"Furthermore, when discussing his condition with the doctor, translation can be a problem.
"A doctor might also not be able to fully explain the illness and how to use the medicine, and this can be dangerous.
"The deaf patient might even recommend the medicine to another patient in order to avoid visiting the doctor and going through the embarrassment."
Mr Al Nuaimi said that deaf Bahrainis tend to watch TV channels of neighbouring countries because they feature sign language translation in the corner of the screen for various programmes.
"We should also have the privilege of watching our country's channels."
He said that the society was optimistic of being provided with such services.
"We have high hopes that Dr Ali will raise our requests with the authorities concerned and help us to have our basic rights as citizens," he said.
Mr Al Nuaimi said that the society teaches sign language courses to doctors, urging those interested to try and be part of finding a solution to their problem, said Mr Al Nuaimi.
"We also have certified sign language experts who can be employed to serve in any ministry," he said.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=259646
Posted by 4HL on September 23, 2009 4:08 AM
Send this article to a friend