Health workers and PWS coordinator of Region 1 practices hand gestures during the three-day Basic Filipino Sign Language training conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center.
Personnel from the Department of Health – Ilocos Region and local government units (LGUs) attended a three-day training on Basic Filipino Sign Language (BFSL) for them to use in communicating with individuals and patients with hearing disabilities from October 27-29, 2022 in La Union.
“We want our health workers and LGU coordinators to have an increase knowledge in the understanding of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and how to improve their attitudes towards disabled patients, especially those with hearing impairment. We want to further improve and make health services better for them that is why every health worker must undergo a BSL for these PWDs to be properly understood,” Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated.
“Napakaimportante na maunawaaan natin ang kanilang mga needs at concerns upang hindi tayo magkamali sa pagbigay sa kanila ng proper treatment and care. At ito ay upang maengganyo na rin sila na pumunta at magpakunsulta sa mga health center dahil alam nilang mayroong health worker na makakaunawa at magaasikaso sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng sign language.”
Participants of the BFSL have undergone basic signs for communication with deaf patients including alphabet, numbers, greetings, time, days and months for effective communication during consultations in health care facilities.
Among the 32 participants included in the training are from the Department of Health – Ilocos Regional Office, PWD Coordinators of various provincial, city and municipal government and development management officers.
“Health workers with BFSL skills are essential in every health facility. Hindi tayo dapat magkamali sa pagbibigay ng health service or pagbbigay ng maling gamot, we do not want to prescribe the wrong treatment just because we do not understand what a deaf patient is saying. Lack of knowledge to communicate with our deaf patients is not an excuse. We must learn their language in order for us to understand them,” Sydiongco emphasized.
The BFSL was conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center.
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