SMSANZ strongly believes in inclusivity and that access to healthcare should be equitable to all. However, one of the barriers to access healthcare for the deaf would be difficulty in conversing with physicians untrained in Basic Sign Language (BSL). Thus, SMSANZ has regularly held the Sign Language Programme.
Across several lessons, medical students are able to learn BSL from a trained tutor. Medical students are expected to practise their signing throughout the lessons and to converse with one another through BSL. During the lessons, lectures are also conducted to increase medical students’ awareness of the difficulties faced by the deaf community and what public health measures are required to address their needs. This programme has since trained many students to converse in BSL and to become an ambassador for the deaf community within Singapore’s healthcare system.
Singapore Medical Society of Australia & New Zealand 