Mapharing said that when the conference commences this week - June 21 to 23 - in Johannesburg, South Africa she would raise issues that affect them as deaf women in Botswana. She said that deaf women are marginalised because they are not able to communicate effectively with health care providers.
As a result, she said, some were even afraid to visit health facilities. She said one of the reasons is that there is no Botswana sign language. She said that is a violation of human rights.
Mapharing gave a recent example of the recalling of the Viracept anti-retrovirals and said because it had not been signed to the deaf, they had missed out on the message. She said Botswana sign language should be a priority for interpreting. Mapharing said that the real clients in the rural areas were excluded and questioned how they were given instructions on the use of ARVs. Mapharing, a teacher and counsellor at Ramotswa Community Junior Secondary School, said representatives at the conference themed 'No time to wait' would get insights into what others in different countries were doing. They would also bring information to Botswana that would influence decisions.
Mapharing said all other African countries had their own sign language. It is a pity that Botswana is lagging behind," she lamented. She said American sign language is used at schools to the disadvantage of those who are out of school.
"Parents find it hard to learn it (American sign language) and illiterate people do not understand it," she added.
"It is like we are going back to the colonial days when we copied everything Western," she said. She said as deaf Batswana they should pride themselves in sign language of their own. She called for a sign language council to be set up with stakeholders. On another note, Mapharing said that the P14, 000 donation they received from President Festus Mogae recently would go a long way in assisting them.
She said they were currently looking for an office and that by September they would have a deaf awareness week where they are hoping to make themselves more visible with banners. They would call aurally impaired people from other districts to make their voice stronger and louder. "We have never had a meaningful campaign, so the money came at the right time, thanks to our father, Festus Mogae," she said. Mapharing said if they get enough funding they would contribute to other causes and contribute towards building a compassionate and caring nation.
