Ministry of Gender trains 80 sign language interpreters to bridge communication Gap

2026-01-27 - 08:44

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – In a significant move toward national inclusivity, the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare has successfully trained approximately 80 sign language interpreters. The initiative is designed to dismantle communication barriers for persons with hearing impairments at critical service points, specifically police stations and hospitals. The training is a direct response to years of advocacy by the hearing-impaired community. For a long time, citizens with disabilities have faced systemic exclusion due to the lack of specialized interpreters in government institutions, hindering their access to justice and healthcare. Speaking on the state broadcaster, SSBC, over the weekend, the Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, Hon. Nuna Rhoda, emphasized that the initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s plan to build a supportive society for all. “Our community often mistakenly believes that people with disabilities have no use, but they are very important when we educate and train them,” Minister Rhoda stated. “The Ministry looks forward to continued collaboration with all partners to strengthen disability inclusion in all parts of the country.” The training targeted those on the front lines of public service. Emmanuel Lubari, the Director for Persons with Disabilities at the Ministry, noted that the trainees included Gender-Based Violence (GBV) responders, health personnel, and officers from the South Sudan National Police Service’s Special Protection Unit (SPU). According to Lubari, the goal is to ensure that frontline workers can effectively identify, report, and respond to cases involving the deaf community. “We want to make sure that once they get the training, they will be able to communicate when something is affecting the community, especially the hearing impaired,” Lubari explained. While the training is a milestone, participants are urging the government to ensure these skills reach the field immediately. Madalina Keji, one of the trainees, advocated for the permanent deployment of interpreters across both public and private sectors. “Sign language interpreters should be distributed to private sectors and even hospitals,” Keji said. “We need more people to be trained so that persons with hearing impairment do not face difficulties in police stations, courts, and private institutions.” Sign language is often misunderstood as simple gesturing, but experts remind the public that it is a fully developed, natural language. It utilises a sophisticated system of hand movements, facial expressions, and body gestures to convey complex meaning, serving as a vital bridge to equality for thousands of South Sudanese. As the Ministry concludes this phase of training, the focus now shifts to the program’s sustainability and the integration of these 80 professionals into the national workforce.