COVIC 19
versus Communication Modes and Language for Persons with Disabilities
This
piece of writing depicts the real situation of different categories of persons
with disabilities who remain at risk of being infected by the Corona virus.
This is not only a threat to persons with disabilities but those care givers or
parents or indeed support persons. Let us examine the demonstrations in the
dialogue between Public Health Inspector (PHI) Kusalila and Disability Support
Person (DSP) Bwino.
PHI
Kusalila: Hey! Look at those two people. What they are doing is wrong in this
time of social distancing under the COVIC 19 crisis.
DSP
Bwino: Kusalila, what have the two done?
PHI
Kusalila: they keep touching each other in their hands and on different parts
of their bodies. Let me go and have them charged for breaking the SI 21 and SI
22. Of course also not complying to the directives given by His Excellence,
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Look!
DSP
Bwino: Hold on Kusalila. The problem with you is that you rush into conclusions
before inquiring. Let me make you understand.
PHI
Kusalila: there is no understanding when it comes to life or death Bwino. It is
a Presidential directive and no one must break it. I am charging them under the
Public Health Act. How do they keep on touching each other in public during
this Corona Virus time.
DSP
Bwino: Wait. Those three people are discussing a family matter. The gentleman
in a blue shirt is deaf-blind. He cannot see, or speak and cannot hear at all.
The lady he keeps touching with is his interpreter. She can speak hear and see.
The other lady who seems to be speaking to the young lady touching him is
actually speaking to him not her. She can see, speak and hear. She is his aunt.
PHI
Kusalila: so! What do you mean? They speak by touching each other?
DSP
Bwino: that is their alternative mode of communication. All that touching and
writing on each other palms is all communication. You cannot stop them from
communicating with each other in their own mode of communication.
PHI
Kusalila: Now what do we do? COVIC 19 will catch them. They do not respect
social distancing. They are touching and so on. We have the duty to correct the
situation.
DSP
Bwino: I would have asked that question to you. You are a public officer. Did
you think of individuals who are deaf-blind in developing all those Sis, IEC
materials and the rest of the interventions?
PHI
Kusalila: Well! I do not know what to do. But they remain at risk.
DSP
Bwino: It is you to blame. You left them behind despite your motto of “leave no
one behind”. Good bye.
PHI
Kusalila: Wait my friend Bwino! You are an expert of this field of persons with
disabilities. You also have got the duty to educate me on any possible
interventions that will ensure their full inclusion. Tell me what should I do
to protect them?
DSP
Bwino: Let us visit them and hear what should be done which is best for them.
We should not make any decisions without them.
PHI
Kusalila: But can I not give them hand gloves right aware since they continue
to touch each other with bare hands?
DSP
Bwino: No! That is not correct. Hand gloves are a barrier to their form of
communication. The gloves will not allow them to receive the communication
through their naked hands. They use the sense of feeling by the way.
PHI
Kusalila: Oh! I see. What about face masks to cover their nose and mouth?
DSP
Bwino: Come on Kusalila. You never know. I can see that the interpreter keeps
looking at the moving lips of the person who is deaf-blind. She may be using a
method called lip reading. So, the mask may be a barrier.
PHI
Kusalila: Bwino, you are an expert, let us go and hear from them I think that
is the best thing to do. Consultation. I should also educate my bosses…. It is
important for us as a government to conduct wide consultation with everyone
before we rush into some of the activities that affect our communities.
What is your thought?) Inclusion or exclusion?)
Dialogue
two
PHI
Kusalila: Bwino my friend look at the man coming over there. Do you know him?
DSP
Bwino: Of course, I know him very well. He is Mr. Mabvuto. He is one of those
persons with disabilities I have been working with for a long time.
PHI
Kusalila: So he is coming for you. Can I leave the two of you to discuss. When
you are through I will come over. I just want to check on how the distribution
of the hand sanitizers is going on.
DSP
Bwino: No my friend, Kusalila. Stay around. Maybe Mabvuto is looking for
assistance from you. So, stay around and we talk to him together.
(Mabvuto
arrives and presents his case to Kusalila instead of Bwino as was expected.)
PHI
Kusalila: Bwino, have you heard his complaint. He says the team in the field
has refused to give him some hand sanitizers. Please attend to him since you
may understand your people better.
DSP
Bwino: I have heard his complaint. He says your team has refused to give him
some hand sanitizers because he does not have arms. So he does not need them.
This is your matter Kusalila. I am not a Public Health Inspector. Neither do I
work for the Ministry of Health. Resolve this.
PHI
Kusalila: Bwino can I talk to you alone first before I deal with Him. Come over
here.
(Move
to the side leaving Mabvuto alone.)
PHI
Kusalila: Bwino, why do you sometimes just want to be difficult. This man does
not have hands really. Those are hand sanitizers. What does he need them for.
Maybe he wants to distribute to his family. Advise me, please.
DSP
Bwino: Kusalila, Kusalila, I always tell you to consult the person complaining.
Go and talk to Mabvuto himself. I was not there when they refused to give him sanitizers.
Talk to him.
PHI
Kusalila: But…but Bwino, how? I may offend him. Talk to him and I will listen
to whatever he says. I will be able to give him as many sanitizers as he wants
for further distribution since he does not require them. Please….
DSP
Bwino: It seems you are really stuck Mr. Inspector. Let us go I talk to him on
your behalf.
(They
get back and find Mabvuto gazing at Kusalila expecting an answer.)
DSP
Bwino: Yes, Mabvuto, you said the team out there refused to give you hand sanitizers
because you do not have hands or arms. I know your arms were amputated after an
accident.
(Mabvuto
explains. He even explains how he uses his legs/feet to do everything he does.
He said he required the sanitizers to sterilise his feet which work as his
hands.)
DSP
Bwino: Kusalila, you have heard. I have seen Mabvuto using his feet for making
door mats. Good door mats. He uses his toes to hold a pen and write. He also
uses his toes to pick a table fork or spoon to feed himself.
PHI
Kusalila: This is really surprising. God is great! God is really great!
So…so…I….
DSP
Bwino: Let us go and give him more sanitizers than these other people who use
their hands. His feet are more vulnerable and susceptible to infections because
he even steps on the ground. Come on let us go.
PHI
Kusalila: He seems to be a good man. He is jovial and does not even seem to
regret his loss of hands.
DSP
Bwino: That is not important. He has got the right to receive equal protection from this COVIC 19 pandemic
just like any other person. The problem with you health workers is that you
think you know it all. Consult the affected and they will tell you their
requirements. Involve them in planning and implementation of the emergency
responses and intervention to the pandemic. Then you will learn them more.
PHI
Kusalila: I have learnt a lot. I learn a lot about persons with disabilities
whenever I am with you. Mr. Mabvuto, my friend, let us go. I will give you the sanitizers
you require. I will also register you on the list of those to carry out
awareness raising on the Corona virus. Of cores we shall orient you. Let us go.
DSP
Bwino: Kusalila, after you are done with him, let him take you to their office.
He belongs to an association which advocates for the rights of persons with
physical disabilities. Get more information from the association. Bye!
(Another
interesting experience. Discrimination at face value – right?)
Wamundila
Waliuya,
April,
2020,
Lusaka.
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