The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH) has called on the management of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) to create a special news programme for the deaf and people hard of hearing. Addressing a press conference held at GADHOH head office in Banjul, on Monday, Ms Amie Cham, GADHOH female wing chairperson, said the deaf and people hard of hearing need to know what is happening around them.

Ms Cham, who returned from Spain recently where she attended an international conference on the deaf, said she saw that in Spain and many other countries present at that forum have special television and radio stations specifically for the deaf.

She added that some countries have special news bulletin for the deaf, emphasising that a similar initiative should take place here.

According to her, the Gambia government should consider getting the deaf involved in the proposed skills to be established in collaboration with the Spanish authorities, as a way of curbing illegal migration.

For his part, Mr. Dodou Loum, Executive Director of GADHOH, said the aim of the press conference was to raise awareness on the plight of the deaf and hard of hearing the Gambia. He revealed that they have regional branches in almost all the regions in the country.

He said GADHOH is working on sign language training, creation of job opportunities for the deaf, and trying to eliminate the issue of discrimination against the deaf and hard of hearing.