Kenya is set to host a conference that will seek to review challenges faced by the deaf and the mitigations in place to improve their quality of life.
The Africa Conference on Deafness 2024 will be held in Nairobi from November 27-29, 2024.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura noted that the event will bring together policymakers, advocates and community leaders to advance dialogue and action on the rights, empowerment and inclusion of deaf persons and those with disabilities across the continent
“Through this conference, Kenya reaffirms its commitment to lead Africa in elevating the voices of persons with disabilities, fostering a future where inclusion and sustainably go hand in hand,” he said.
He noted that the rights of persons with disabilities are enshrined in the Constitution and protected in the law under Article 254.
The conference will bring together over 500 stakeholders in the deaf empowerment ecosystem to share the status of the rights of deaf children and those with hearing impairments and the progress made by countries across Africa in the areas of education, culture, arts and sign language, while at the same time benchmarking on the advanced societies in the world.
The ACD 2024 is designed to gather persons with hearing impairment, service providers, caregivers, professionals, policymakers, and scholars to share their knowledge and experience in order to increase collaboration and cooperation towards the development and betterment of the deaf in Africa.
It will promote awareness of deafness and will also discuss how technology and innovation can help improve the quality of life for the deaf child and scale the deaf community support
The meeting has been convened by Kenya Society for Deaf Children (KSDC), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to the rights, needs, and interests of children with deafness and hearing loss, specifically with regard to their education, health, and social welfare.
Also expected at the conference will be over 50 industry exhibitors both from the public and private sector.
Some people expected to show up are among the deaf community, international, regional and Kenyan associations on deafness, manufacturing companies for hearing solutions, government ministries for Education, Health, and Social Protection, development partners, students, hospitals, private doctors and academic institutions advancing special education courses.
