The Zambian Government has officially received the Zambian Sign Language Digital Dictionary, a development expected to strengthen accessible communication and improve the inclusion of Deaf persons in public services and national development.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Mr. Morris Moono, described the dictionary as an important resource for improving access to social welfare services, particularly for Deaf persons seeking assistance from government institutions.
Moono noted that communication barriers often prevent Deaf persons from reporting abuse, explaining their needs, accessing available support services and participating in decisions affecting their welfare. He particularly stressed the importance of accessible communication in supporting Deaf children, women experiencing gender-based violence and individuals requiring psychosocial assistance.
He urged frontline government officers and community structures to adopt the dictionary as a practical tool for improving communication and service delivery to Deaf persons. He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to collaborating with the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) and other stakeholders to make social welfare services more inclusive.
Also speaking, the Director General of ZAPD, Mr. Frankson Musukwa, described the handover as a significant step towards dismantling communication barriers that restrict Deaf persons’ access to essential services, including healthcare, education, employment, justice and public information.
Musukwa explained that the freely accessible online dictionary offers benefits beyond individual learning, providing an opportunity to strengthen communication within families, schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities and public institutions.
He called on government ministries, educational institutions, healthcare providers, private organisations and civil society groups to integrate the resource into their daily operations to promote accessible and inclusive service delivery.
However, he emphasised that the digital dictionary should complement, rather than replace, the services of qualified sign language interpreters and the establishment of accessible public systems.
The initiative was developed through the efforts of the Zambia Deaf Women and Youth Organisation in collaboration with technical and development partners, with active participation from the Deaf community.
The handover represents an important milestone in Zambia’s disability inclusion efforts, reinforcing the need to eliminate communication barriers that prevent Deaf persons from accessing public services and exercising their fundamental rights.
The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on its widespread adoption by public and private institutions, sustained collaboration with the Deaf community and deliberate efforts to ensure that communication accessibility becomes an integral part of service delivery.