Gambia celebrates Int’l Deaf Week

The Gambia Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH) and partners on Friday held a symposium as part of events marking the International Deaf Week.

Held at GADHOH headquarters at Kanifing, the event was held on the theme ‘With sign language, I am equal’. 

According to statistics, every year 70 million deaf people worldwide celebrate the International Deaf Week.  The week is set aside by the United Nations to draw attention of society on deaf issues as well as disseminate information on deaf people and deafness for the purpose of promoting their human rights and full participation in society.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdoulie Njie, president of GADHOH, said Gamworks has given the Banjul branch of GADHOH a milling machine and the Brikama branch, a van and the deaf sports also received a van.

He noted that most Gambian deaf people are self-employ but it has come to the attention of the association [GADHOH] that some foreign deaf people are involved in large scale begging in the county.

“Deaf people with skills should be encouraged to take up self-employed business and also form groups of similar interest to do business,” Mr Njie said.

Madam Emilly Sarr, who spoke on behalf of the UNDP Gambia representative, said the theme of this year’s commemoration calls to mind the importance of sign language.

Sign language is a means of ensuring that the deaf have the ability to give and received information effectively with each other and with the community at large, she said.

Dodou Loum said with the enactment of a Disability Bill and the adoption of an integrated national disability policy, life for some disables groups would take a turn for the better.

Anthony Gomez, a representative of the minister of Local Governments and Lands, said the celebration would draw attention of the global society on the deaf issue as well as disseminate information on deaf people and deafness for the purpose of promoting their wellbeing and full participation in society.