A story titled ‘Pregnant PWD Women struggle to access safe maternity care,’ which was published in the Daily Monitor yesterday, highlights the plight of people with disabilities (PWDs).
The story narrates the ordeal of expectant PWD mothers who face difficulties in accessing services at health facilities in eastern Uganda.
A key cause of their predicament is the fact that many health workers do not know how to read and communicate in sign language.
This leads to delays in attending to the expectant mothers, endangering their lives and those of their unborn babies.
The expectant mothers also complain that some health workers are rude and treat them inhumanely.
Unfortunately, the problems faced by the expectant PWD mothers in eastern Uganda are also faced by other PWDs across the country.
Many health workers do not know sign language, impeding their ability to properly diagnose and treat PWDs.
Furthermore, PWDs find it hard to access toilets in health facilities nationwide. Most toilets in health facilities are not PWD-friendly. Some of them do not have ramps to enable easy accessibility by PWDs.
Many require the user to squat in order to use them, yet some PWDs are unable to do so because of their impairments.
While some health facilities have flush toilets that can be used while seated, some of them do not have handrails to enable easier use by PWDs.
The problems experienced by PWDs in health facilities also exist in other places, like public buildings that house government offices, schools, and commercial buildings, among others.
Many public buildings do not have ramps and lifts, making it difficult for PWDs to access them. PWDs also find it hard to use toilets in these buildings.
Few civil servants know sign language, making it difficult for them to render assistance to PWDs who approach them for help in their offices.
To remedy the problems faced by PWDs, we call upon the authorities to teach health workers and other civil servants sign language to enable them to effectively communicate with PWDs.
All public buildings must have ramps, and if storeyed, lifts to enable easy access by PWDs.
These public buildings and health facilities must have toilets that can easily be used by PWDs.
Furthermore, we must all treat PWDs with kindness and respect. They are human beings just like the rest of us. When they go to health facilities or visit offices, they should not be discriminated against, insulted, or belittled.