AssistALL App Launched in Garissa to Transform Healthcare Access for the Deaf
Matters Disability Updated: 27 March 2026 16:24 EAT
Founder of Signs Media Kenya Limited and the assistAll application
Garissa County has unveiled a new mobile application aimed at bridging communication barriers between healthcare workers and the deaf community, marking a significant step toward inclusive healthcare. The AssistALL app, developed by Signs Media Kenya Limited in partnership with the UK in Kenya, KICTANet and the ICT Authority, offers on-demand sign language interpretation services within health facilities.
The launch coincided with a three-day digital literacy training programme under the initiative dubbed “Enhancing Digital Access and Community Resilience,” targeting both healthcare providers and members of the deaf community. The programme seeks to strengthen communication and improve service delivery for deaf patients.
According to Luke Muleka, Founder of Signs Media Kenya, at least 25 healthcare providers and 50 deaf individuals alongside sign language interpreters have undergone training. He noted that the initiative is designed to empower participants with digital skills while enhancing inclusivity in healthcare systems.
“We are doing a digital literacy programme that we are doing with the deaf community in Garissa so that they understand the importance of being digitally literate and are able to use digital platforms to make their lives better,” Muleka said.
He highlighted longstanding communication gaps between healthcare workers and deaf patients, warning that these challenges have often resulted in misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. Maleka emphasized the importance of interpreters in ensuring accurate communication during medical consultations.
“We are also training the healthcare providers on disability mainstreaming. We have realised that a sign language interpreter plays a crucial role in the life of a deaf person. Aiding in effective communication, service delivery and service acquisition and when that interface is disjointed, then there is a problem,” he added.
Muleka expressed optimism that the AssistALL app will significantly improve healthcare outcomes by enabling seamless interaction between patients and providers. He said the platform will help address issues such as missed follow-up appointments and poor adherence to prescriptions among deaf patients.
“The healthcare providers have been having problems in administering medical services to the deaf patients because of lack of communication and this has led to misdiagnosis, lack of adherence to prescriptions, and no-shows for the deaf persons to follow up on medical check-ups. We are trying to cure this by enabling inclusivity in healthcare provision whereby they are now going to feel part of the system by having free interactions,” he said.
Garissa County Director of Health, Dr. Aden Hussein, welcomed the initiative, stating that it aligns with ongoing efforts to integrate disability-friendly services across healthcare facilities in the region.
“This training is meant for disability mainstreaming within the health systems so that we are able to integrate disability-friendly service within our healthcare facilities. We have done a lot in terms of ensuring that our healthcare services are disability-friendly in that we have factored their needs in our infrastructures, we have issued assistive devices and gadgets, and now we are equipping our health workers with sign language,” Dr. Hussein said.
He added that the training will enhance communication during patient consultations, ultimately improving access and equity in healthcare delivery for marginalized groups.
“The workers will now be able to conduct better communication when they are having consultations with the patients. This will improve equity and access to a segment of the population which is easily disadvantaged,” he added.
The AssistALL rollout is expected to set a precedent for inclusive healthcare innovation, with stakeholders hopeful it will be replicated in other counties to ensure no patient is left behind.
Tags: Assist All AssistALL Assistive Technology Disability Disability Inclusion Edit Editor's Pick Matters Disability Matters Disaility My Disability Is My Ability Signs Signs Media Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Signsv The Deaf
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FELIX MAKONA
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