In an effort to ensure that there is equal healthcare access for all Guyanese, the Ministry of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Department on Saturday hosted a workshop on immunization for the hearing and speech-impaired at Grand Coastal Hotels, East Coast Demerara.
A release from the Ministry of Health said that the session was geared at providing education on the routine immunization programme, COVID-19 and boosters, and HPV vaccines.
The activity employed a mixed methodology of live hand signing, immunisation videos in sign language, and whiteboard sketching.
Dr Oneka Scott, the Maternal and Child Health Officer said the current initiative is to be rolled out in three phases, the first being to educate the population on the benefits of vaccination.
This will follow a further engagement with speech and hearing impaired adolescents and then the development of vaccine promotional content in a sign language format.
Dr Scott reiterated that health literacy plays an important role in the choices people make and anticipates that such activities will improve health-seeking behaviour among the participants.
Sign language Expert Leticia Alexander and Public Health Nurse Edol Ainsworth were the facilitators of the session.
They both indicated that the participants were very responsive and actively participated in the session.
