Kumba Baptist Hospital goes Inclusive, engages Housekeepers with Hearing Impairment
Kumba Baptist Hospital (KBH) is stepping up efforts to give quality care to all, ensuring its mission and vision by engaging people living with disabilities in its workforce. This was the case as two housekeepers living with hearing impairment were engaged and presented to the staff during morning devotion by the Hospital Administrator, Dr. Yungseh Peter Nshiom during the event marking the International Week of Deaf People (IWDEAF), 2023.
The IWDEAF 2023 was celebrated under the team, “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere”. The theme comes at a time when deaf people are faced with public stigma and sign language communication barriers.
In the event of the IWDEAF, KBH Social Worker and sign language instructor, Mr. Baimboh Divine Bainkong had a presentation on hearing impairment. The presentation covered the root causes of hearing impairment, challenges faced by deaf people, DOs and DON’Ts to deaf people, and types of communication for deaf people notably vibrations, writing, body language, facial expression, and sign language which is their major means of communication.
The KBH Social Worker and Mental Health staff equally stressed the need for face-to-face communication, avoiding wearing face masks, goggles, and long earrings, when talking to deaf people as they read lips and body language to pick words and better their understanding when communicating.
Dr. Yungseh Peter Nshiom on this occasion warned that any staff caught in the act of stigma and discrimination to people living with disabilities shall have him to contend with. The Administrator further reiterated that not all deaf people understand the American Sign Language and we must find a way to communicate with all who need our services. On this premise, the Administrator called on all to help the new housekeepers adapt to their work.
Our Kumba-based reporters, Tanyu Usmanu Ndi and Kati Mercy Fieke accosted the Administrator, Dr. Yungseh Peter Nshiom to know the level of inclusiveness of the hospital and the challenges in meeting the needs of people living with disabilities in KBH. The Administrator remarked that the hospital is doing well in being inclusive by establishing signposts for all departments, adjustable beds in wards, seating scale at OPD, and accessible pathways for wheelchairs and stretchers up the main hospital building with rails for support. The Administrator equally revealed that before now, the hospital had engaged other staff living with disabilities. The public health expert, however, regretted that the doors, toilet seats and wash-hand basins are yet to be adapted to suit people living with various disabilities, a situation he said will soon be under control.
It is worth noting that KBH is one of the CBCHS institutions that has been practicing sign language during morning devotions for the past four years. With the coming of the two housekeepers with hearing impairment, devotions and announcements are now accompanied by sign language interpretation, thanks to the efforts of sign language teachers, Madam Ndifon Zilpah and Mr. Baimboh Divine Bainkong.
In his letter dated September 20, 2023, to all institutions relating to the commemoration of IWDEAF, the Director of Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih encouraged each and every staff to use the sign language dictionary which was launched in March 2023 to ease communication with the deaf people that need our services.
For now, the hope is to see Kumba Baptist Hospital changed to a new terminology of “Kumba Baptist Inclusive Hospital” – a true definition that reflects her services.