The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) has announced plans to deploy sign language interpreters in public hospitals as part of a broader effort to improve access to maternal and reproductive healthcare for deaf women and other persons with disabilities.
The commitment was made during a meeting held on July 7, 2026, between the Secretariat and the Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI). During the engagement, the Mandate Secretary of HSES, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to addressing the healthcare access barriers faced by persons with disabilities across the FCT.
A major outcome of the meeting was HSES’ directive to DWAI to nominate six qualified sign language interpreters for possible deployment at Kuje General Hospital. The pilot initiative is expected to provide direct communication support for deaf women accessing antenatal, maternity and reproductive health services, ensuring they receive quality care without communication barriers.
Beyond the deployment of interpreters, the Secretariat also pledged to strengthen disability inclusion across the health sector by reviewing the Health Management Information System (HMIS) to include disability-disaggregated data. This will enable more accurate planning and service delivery for persons with disabilities.
The Secretariat further disclosed that disability-inclusive healthcare would be incorporated into the memorandum for the 4th FCT Council on Health, elevating the issue to a key policy agenda. It also agreed to review the health sign language glossary developed by DWAI for wider circulation across health facilities, invited the organisation to submit a practical proposal on improving healthcare access for persons with sensory disabilities, and approved a technical review of the previous FCT-supported sign language interpretation pilot to guide future expansion.
Describing the development as a significant milestone, DWAI said the planned deployment of sign language interpreters represents a shift from advocacy to concrete action, noting that deaf women should no longer have to navigate pregnancy and childbirth without effective communication support.
The organisation expressed appreciation to Dr. Fasawe, the HSES team and other stakeholders for their commitment to building a more inclusive healthcare system. It also acknowledged the support of the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), whose partnership has contributed to advancing disability-inclusive healthcare initiatives in the FCT.
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