By Ndinatsei Mavodza
MASVINGO – While many marked the International Day for Persons with Disabilities with speeches, the Masvingo Association of Residential Facilities Trust (MARCFT) chose a different path, gathering over 50 hearing-impaired persons in Rhodhene on December 5 for a focused event addressing their unique challenges.
The voluntary charity network, which works with care homes and special schools across the province, dedicated this year’s commemoration to the deaf community, highlighting the communication barriers that often exclude them from vital services and information.
MARCFT Executive Director Zendakwaye Zendakwaye explained the deliberate focuson the community saying it was often overlooked among other people with disability.
“This year, we decided to make a deliberate effort to specifically recognize those living with hearing impairments. This population is often excluded, especially when it comes to access to information,” Zendakwaye told TellZim News.
Attendees outlined significant hurdles faced in daily life, particularly within the healthcare system, where the absence of sign language interpreters compromises both service and privacy.
Zendakwaye described a common, inadequate workaround where they have to write their symptoms down for the nurses to read.
“In most cases when they go to clinic, they have to write down their symptoms and hand them to nurses for onward communication to doctors. There is a clear need for more inclusive health services,” he said.
Communication during the event was facilitated by sign language interpreter Beatrice Sithole.
Linking the gathering to the ongoing 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, MARCFT Programme Coordinator Kudzai Dakwa noted that hearing-impaired individuals were frequently isolated from support services due to language barriers.
“If you see signs that someone among you is facing gender-based violence, talk about it. Let us not be quiet,” said Dakwa.
Participants shared personal struggles, including one woman who described facing emotional abuse at home because her disability sometimes prevents her from quickly responding to her husband at the door.
The event also served as a platform for health education, with information shared on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, encouraging early screening. All attendees received practical support in the form of clothes and mealie-meal.
Aligned with this year’s global theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” the national commemorations were held concurrently at Zaka Primary School in Zaka district.
