Daily Chronicle
Participants of the just concluded 4 Days Step-Down training on sign language interpretation for sign language interpreters have expressed their zeal and readiness to step down the training in their respective places of work across the 20 LGAs of Bauchi State.
The training which was organised by the USAID Funded State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, ended on Friday 22nd November, 2024, attracted 35 participants drawn mostly from the Bauchi State Agency for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), relevant MDAs from Health, Education and WASH and some CSOs.
Sharing their assessment of the training with our correspondent at the end of the Four Days activity, the participants applauded USAID State2State Activity for the innovative and rich contents of the training materials.
A desk officer of the State Agency for PWDs in Toro Local Government Area, Roseline Habila Zakka said the training has exposed her to what sign language interpretation entails and how it would add value to her work as a desk officer.
Roseline Zakka said that the step-by- step presentations during the training has brought the basic sign language interpretation to light for her.
“This training will not doubt add value to my work as desk officer of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Sometimes I encounter challenge in conveying the health needs of the hearing impaired persons when seeking for services at health facilities in my Local Government Area of coverage. Between this training and the materials we hope they would share with us, not only will it enhance my capacity to interpret sign language, but i will also try to cascade the training so that other people may benefit from the knowledge too”, said Roseline Zakka.
Sharing his thoughts on the impact of the training and how it is going to make a difference in the way he relates with the people he comes across, a hearing impaired person Sulaiman Ahmed, who spoke to our correspondent through a sign interpreter Muhammad Abujihad, said the training has increase his knowledge of sign language interpretation.
“As the chairman of Bauchi State Deaf Association, the training has further strengthened my capacity to communicate effectively using the new innovation i discovered here during the training. I will ensure that my members also benefit from the knowledge i gained here through a step-down training to my members. I also want to encourage the general public to learn, at least the basic sign language interpretation in order to understand what we talking about”.
Ahmed, through the interpreter, also commended the State Agency for PWDs for nominating him and some of his colleagues, and called for continuous refresher trainings so that the sign language interpretation will be absorbed by both the general public and PWDs.
The Chairman of the State deaf association also expressed his gratitude to the Bauchi State field office of USAID State2State for facilitating the training.
On the level of participant’s understanding of the training contents, the lead resource person Professor Abu Egwa Ozegya said that he was impressed with the contributions from the participants during the exercise, stressing that the zeal and commitment demonstrated by them was a clear indication of their understanding of the objective of the training.
Professor Ozegya further called on the participants to implement what they have learnt at the training in their places of work across the State, stressing that,” it is only by practicing what they learnt that participants could perfect the sign language interpretation”.
“I want to commend the USAID State2State for their foresight in providing technical support during the training”.
“I am calling on the Bauchi State Government through the Agency for PWDs to embrace and own the sign language interpretation program through continuous refresher for a better social inclusion outcomes especially in the critical focused social service sectors of Health, Education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Bauchi State”, said Ozegya.
At the end of the Four Days intensive training, participants made recommendations that includes:
- Domestication of the 5 Year National Strategic Plan on Disability Inclusion in Bauchi State
- Continuous refresher training on sign language interpretation for the trained desk officers
- Comprehensive report writing by the Agency for PWDs on the conduct of the training
- Advocacy to see be carried out by the Agency for PWDs to relevant MDAs on the importance of incorporating sign language interpreter in service delivery sectors to ensure disability inclusion in programming and
- The procurement of Joy of Signing text book to be used by the trained desk officers, among other recommendations
In her closing remarks, the Executive Secretary of of the Agency for PWDs, Hon Brisca Joram Aaron thanked USAID State2State for facilitating training which she described as the first ever for the Agency staff.
She also implored the participants to apply what they learnt, stressing that, “I will be watching with keen interest and there will be a reward incentive for those that strive to excel”.