The Problem

The issue at hand is that the deaf community in Uganda encounters substantial obstacles in obtaining essential healthcare information, especially related to infectious diseases. The challenge is exacerbated by the absence of standardized sign language interpretations for medical terminology, resulting in miscommunication and misunderstandings during medical consultations. Deaf individuals frequently depend on improvised interpretations by untrained persons, leading to erroneous information dissemination, misdiagnosis, or a total absence of awareness regarding preventive strategies and treatments for infectious diseases. These communication barriers not only degrade the quality of healthcare provided but also exclude the deaf community from fully engaging in public health discourse, rendering them more susceptible during disease outbreaks such as COVID-19.

The Solution

The project successfully rectified this significant deficiency by creating an exhaustive Ugandan Sign Language dictionary focused on infectious diseases, which was supplemented with images and videos that precisely depicted the signs [2,3]. This visual dictionary was compiled by specialists in sign language and infectious diseases to guarantee precision and clarity of understanding. Furthermore, the dictionary was made digitally accessible via an open online platform, providing healthcare providers and the deaf community with immediate access to reliable and standardized medical sign language resources. This initiative has enhanced communication in healthcare environments and has empowered deaf individuals by equipping them with the necessary resources to comprehend and manage their health autonomously.