The Gombe State Commissioner of Health, Hon. Dr. Habu Dahiru has pledged unflinching support for the Deaf community of the State.
This was disclosed to INN on Tuesday after a team of State Executives Committee members of the Gombe State Association of the Deaf (GOMSAD), led by Chairman of the Association, Mr Musa Jauro Julde paid an advocacy visit to the Hon Commissioner in his office.
The GOMSAD Chairman appreciated the Commissioner for the prompt attention given to the association’s request for a courtesy visit. He admitted that this was the first time his members would be accorded the opportunity to express themselves fully in the ministry of health.
The GOMSAD leader also used the opportunity to draw attention of the Commissioner to the serious health challenges faced by several members of GOMSAD, which, according to him, requires helping hands from the ministry to resolve.
Jauro noted that the visit was informed by the Association’s determination to address His Honour, The Health Commissioner on the myriads of health challenges facing our people with hopes of finding lasting solutions to them.
Jauro says one such challenge encountered by deaf persons in public health centers is the communication barrier. There is a lack of sign language interpreters to ease communication between Deaf patients and medical practitioners in the hospitals”
He went on: “Interpreters are important catalysts. They save lives and enhance communication between the Deaf and medical practitioners anywhere. As I am talking to you, one of our members is paralyzed in half of his body. Very sadly, this paralysis is the result of wrong prescription administered by a health care provider in a private hospital in Gombe. We see now the negative implications of the language gap we have been grappling with for a long time”.
Julde also used the occasion to seek intervention of the commissioner on the health challenge of a Deaf female student of the Special Education Centre, Gombe State. The student identified as Azima Idris is suffering from a strange chronic disease that causes a swelling around her lower jaw.
According to him, Azima who is in SS3 student has been battling with the condition for a long time. Her parents had exhausted the resources they could muster for her treatment without any sign of improvement.
Julde further requested the Commissioner to direct the hospitals in the state to provide free medication to the Deaf.
Reacting to the developments, the Commissioner, Dr. Habu Dahiru appreciated the effort of the GOMSAD Leaders and assured them of unflinching support. He pledged to look into all three demands put before him. He reassured the visitors of his ministry’s continual solidarity with the Deaf community of Gombe State.
In his words, “Mr Chairman, I appreciate the effort you are making to save the lives of your people. This is commendable and I assure you of my unlimited support to all the issues you have raised in your speech”
“Be rest assured that sign language interpreters will be promptly employed in our hospitals to solve the lingering communication problem. You should come here to remind me as soon as the Government starts employment. About the student needing an operation, I urge you to bring her here tomorrow or anytime you deem appropriate. I will direct the medical department related to her condition to take full responsibility for her treatment” the Commissioner concluded.
The newly elected Secretary General of JONAPWD Mallam Shuaibu Adamu was visibly amused by the kind-hearted gesture of the Commissioner. He seized the occasion to express his profound gratitude to Dr. Dahiru and requested the Commissioner to serve as Patron of JONAPWD, Gombe State chapter.
Dr. Dahiru appreciated the JONAPWD Secretary for the confidence reposed on him. He reiterated his total commitment to helping PWDs in Gombe State. My door remains open to PWDs anytime, he concluded.