Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) -- a youth development organisation -- has asked government to improve the quality of life of hearing-impaired persons, especially the youth.

A statement issued by the Foundation on the commemoration of International Day of Sign Language prevailed on the government to do this “by developing and implementing a proactive policy that ensures that people with hearing impairments are not left out in communication.”

“We believe that, improving the quality of life for the hearing impaired cannot and must no longer be postponed as the nation strives to attain the goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which inter alia, states the need to ‘...promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development...’” the statement said.

Among other demands, YBF has asked that sign language services be provided at Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve communication for hearing impaired persons “who have equal rights to their services.”

Read the full release below