People with disabilities, particularly those with hearing and speech impairments, continue to face significant challenges in accessing health services at some hospitals, according to recent interviews with concerned guardians. These challenges highlight the ongoing need for improved infrastructure and resources to support the disabled community in Zimbabwe.
In separate interviews several guardians called on authorities to expand the number of specialized schools and clinics to reduce the distance children with disabilities must travel for essential services.
“It’s crucial that more schools and clinics are established so that these children can receive the care they need without having to journey long distances,” one guardian urged.
Another guardian voiced concerns about the inadequacy of teaching sign language at home, stressing that it is the right of every disabled child to access formal education and health services. “Teaching sign language at home is not sufficient,” she said. “Every child with a disability deserves proper education and medical treatment at schools and hospitals.”
The Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated the challenges for children with disabilities, as many parents were forced to pause their children’s education during lockdowns. “When the country was under lockdown, these children were stuck at home, unable to continue their education or learn sign language,” a guardian lamented.
One guardian highlighted the lack of a standardized curriculum for the deaf and mute in Zimbabwe, noting that this gap hinders the ability of teachers to provide consistent education across the country. “Zimbabwe still does not have a proper syllabus for the deaf and dumb, which is a significant oversight,” he said.
Another guardian went so far as to suggest legal action against parents who fail to send their disabled children to school. “Parents who don’t send their children to school should be held accountable because education is the only way to improve their lives,” she stated. “It’s essential that these children learn to communicate effectively, especially when they need to visit hospitals.”
The guardians’ calls for action underline the pressing need for a comprehensive strategy to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to education and healthcare, setting them on a path to a better quality of life.
