Staff Reporter
Kwekwe General Hospital School of Nursing has conducted a three-day sign language training programme for student nurses and midwifery trainees to improve communication with Deaf patients and people with hearing impairments.
The training, facilitated by Sunrise Sign Language Academy, involved 34 registered general nurse students and 12 midwifery trainees. Registered general nurse students received certificates, while midwifery trainees were awarded intermediate certificates at the end of the programme.
Tutor in Charge at the Kwekwe General Hospital School of Nursing, Ben Chaparapata, said the initiative was aimed at addressing communication barriers that affect healthcare delivery for patients with hearing impairments.
“We have a number of people with hearing impairment who visit or are admitted at the hospital. As trainees leave for clinical areas they encounter patients with hearing impairment challenges,” said Chaparapata.
“So sign language helps in providing effective communication between nurse and patient. They will be able to obtain correct information from patients and provide proper diagnosis, implementation and evaluation. It helps provide quality health care to our patients.”
Chaparapata said communication was central to the nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.
“There is a communication barrier for people with hearing impairment and to address that we use sign language for them to access quality health care services. Our mission as the school of nursing is to provide sign language training to all our students,” he said.
Founder of Sunrise Sign Language Academy, Douglas Mapeta, said the programme forms part of efforts to promote inclusive service delivery in the health sector.
“We are rallying behind the President’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. The response to sign language training is very high, especially from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the education sector and communities,” said Mapeta.
“How can you provide health care services without proper communication? We are training student nurses so that they are able to communicate effectively and provide proper care and medication.”
Mapeta said the academy was conducting similar training programmes in different parts of the country and that sign language skills were becoming increasingly important in healthcare.
Chaparapata commended the academy for partnering with the school and urged trainees to apply the skills in their future practice.
“After providing this training we expect all our students to provide quality service in the communities where they will be offering health care services. One component of your training is communicating with disadvantaged individuals. I urge you to go out and provide services effectively,” he said.
Health professionals say communication challenges can affect diagnosis, treatment and informed consent for Deaf patients, making sign language skills increasingly important in healthcare settings.
