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.
