The INCLU.DE – Inclusion for Development (AID –12759), an initiative funded by AICS, was launched in August 2024 with the primary goal of improving the living conditions of men and women with disabilities in Mozambique by implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The project focuses on the provinces of Sofala and Maputo and will work closely with the National Human Rights Commission.
With a significant focus on health, the project will ensure that people with disabilities can access health centers by removing barriers that obstruct access and promoting awareness and training for health professionals. Specific courses will be organized to ensure inclusive and quality care. During the field needs assessment, healthcare staff reported issues in relating to people with disabilities due to inadequate and unadapted communication skills and methods, with visual and auditory disabilities being among the most neglected categories. Therefore, the project will include training for healthcare staff on inclusive communication methods, including sign language, to develop strategies and communication tools that meet the needs of patients with disabilities.
One of the main obstacles faced by the 68,000 people with hearing disabilities in Mozambique is the difficulty of communicating their symptoms or ailments to health professionals due to the lack of sign language knowledge among these technicians. This barrier can be life-threatening, especially in a country like Mozambique, where malaria remains one of the leading causes of death. In 2022, approximately 11 million malaria cases were recorded in the country, making it crucial that all individuals, regardless of their conditions, can effectively and safely access health services.
To address this challenge, REMOTELINE, a Mozambican company that collaborates actively with AICS, launched a remote interpreting service in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that people with hearing disabilities could access health services, especially at a time when many services were moved online. The service offers remote sign language and Portuguese interpreting, facilitating communication between people with hearing disabilities and health professionals. The service is free and available via WhatsApp from Monday to Friday, covering the entire country and extending to countries with significant Mozambican communities, such as Portugal.
REMOTELINE’s line will play a crucial role in the INCLU.DE project, particularly in ensuring inclusive access to health services. This tool will ensure that, regardless of where the project’s activities are implemented, people with hearing disabilities can receive immediate assistance, overcoming communication barriers and ensuring effective and inclusive care.
To publicize this service, REMOTELINE presented the impact of the interpreting service on the project’s success at FACIM, the largest private sector fair in Mozambique, on August 31 as part of AICS’s cultural agenda, reaching thousands of visitors. Additionally, the TV Gestual was also introduced, aiming to ensure that people with hearing disabilities have access to crucial information, including health information. Through its sign language news broadcasts on YouTube from Monday to Friday, it provides guidance on disease prevention, such as Monkeypox, declared a public health emergency in Africa on August 13, 2024.
The INCLU.DE project represents a significant step towards promoting inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities in Mozambique. With the collaboration of REMOTELINE and the implementation of solutions such as the interpreting service, the project aims to overcome barriers and ensure that all citizens can access essential services equitably.