A section of opinion leaders in Nakuru have called on County Government to ensure availability of sign language services in all departments.
The leaders argue that this will ease communication between the service providers and Members of the deaf and dumb community.
They were addressing at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital during demonstrations by members of the deaf and dumb community over the missing of body of a 7 months old baby Mercy Chepng’eno from the facility’s mortuary.
The baby belonged to Mr Daniel Kipchirchir and Ms Sharon Saidy who are both deaf and dumb.
During the protests, it was evidenced that there is a gap in communication between the deaf and dumb.
At one particular time, members of the deaf and dumb community became uncontrollable as they felt they were not being heard or understood through their sign language.
It’s for this reason that opinion leaders Asumpta Wangui, Ben Kihanya and Jimmy Wagakabu have called on the county government of Nakuru to invest in sign language services.
According to Asumpta, such a move would help address the gaps witnessed at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital as the members of the deaf and dumb tried to air their grievances.
“We today stood with members of deaf and dumb community. But we have noted that there is a gap in communication as the administration at PGH and the deaf could not understand each other. This is a call to the county government of Nakuru to ensure sign language services,” stated Asumpta.
Sentiments echoed by Ben Kihanya who pointed out that the deaf just like any other person needs to be understood and get the services required.
He challenged the management at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital to come out clear on the issue of baby Mercy’s body missing.
According to him, if the baby died and was booked at the Mortuary then the law is very clear that the facility has to produce the body.
“If the baby died and was booked at the Mortuary, then the facility should produce the body,” said Kihanya.
Jimmy Wagakabu from Citizen Accountability Forum on his part called out the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital Management over the manner in which they have treated the family.
Though the matter is under investigation, Wagakabu faulted the facility for failing to address the issue on time.
“We are calling for justice for baby Mercy’s family. Let the body be produced and handed to the family,” he said.
