Vihema celebrates deaf blind week
The Vision Hearing Impairment Membership Association (Vihema) yesterday marked the International Deaf Week with life skills demonstrations at Chisombezi Deaf Blind School in Chiradzulu.
During the event—themed accessibility and inclusion in education, technology, work and meaningful leisure activities—deaf blind learners from the school showcased their skills in cooking, drawing, painting, knitting, shelling maize, dancing and others.
Speaking at the function, Father Focus Chikweya, who represented Archbishop Tarcisio Ziyaye, said the Catholic Church is committed to providing education to deaf blind learners in the country.
The school, being run by the congregation of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the church, started in October 2004.
The congregation’s mother general Elizabeth Nampuntha cited lack of special needs teachers, negative attitude towards deaf blind people and the Ministry of Education’s inability to recognise the school as some of the challenges they face.
Primary Education Adviser for Maravi Education Division, Francis Patel, who represented the district education manager, said he will present the concerns raised to his authorities.
Vihema chairperson Ezekiel Kumwenda said the idea of having the week to raise awareness about the plight of deaf blind people in the country.
“Deaf blind is a rather new term to most people, but it simply means a person who cannot hear and see.
“This is a complicated disability because such people can neither belong to institutions for the blind nor the deaf.
“If you send children
to schools for the deaf, they are rejected, saying they should go to deaf schools.n
