Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) has embarked on a drive of lobbying the public to embrace the use of sign language.
Speaking during a press briefing in Blantyre on Friday to mark the beginning of deaf awareness week, MANAD chairperson Lloyd Chilongo, said deaf people are facing untold challenges in the country.
Chilongo said deaf people are facing justice denial due the existing communication barrier and access to education among others.
“In Malawi not many teachers have the knowledge or the skills to teach a deaf learner in an accessible format,” he said.
Chilongo said in an effort to find solutions, MANAD has outlined activities which will help to reach out to the society.
He said among them is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mathandani Community Based Organization (MACOBO).
MACOBO Programs Manager, James Kachingwe said the MOU will help in making sure that people with deaf disability are not marginalized.
“There will be a positive impact because we are going to identify the deaf including the youth. We want to expose the talents of the youth so that their lives can change for the better,” he said.
The International Deaf Week falls on 21st to 27th September every year but is being commemorated here in Malawi in the week beginning 29th to 4th October.
The week will focus much in sensitizing the general public to embrace the importance of using sign language with the theme “full inclusion through sign language.”
