Uganda set to commemorate 14th International Deaf Awareness Week

Uganda is set to join the rest of the world to commemorate the International Deaf Awareness Week (IDAW).

According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), the week promotes awareness of human rights and sign language by hosting a variety of events around the globe.

The commemoration will start on Monday 23rd to Friday 27th September 2019 under the theme, "The Power of Sign language," for Uganda.

While addressing the press today, Joseph Mbulamwana the executive director of the Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD) said that this years celebrations will be held in Kisoro Municipality.

Mbulamwana said that the week is observed annually during the 4th week of September worldwide with a purpose to draw the attention of politicians, authorities and the general public to the achievements and concerns of the deaf persons.

He said they have a goal to create awareness about deafness and deaf persons with an aim of promoting inclusion of Deaf persons in their communities hence access to services provided there in.

The week according to Mbulamwana also increases solidarity among Deaf persons and promotes their rights.

In November 2017, the 72nd United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 23rd September as the International Day of Sign Language in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language.

The week comes when Uganda’s community of the deaf are still raising concerns following the lack of access to health information including HIV/AIDS.

This after a survey revealed that HIV prevalence among them stood at 1.9% and is rising. In 2017, they lashed at the ministry of Health demanding for health awareness information in sign language across all health centres and communication media.