Matters Disability Updated: 31 May 2025 17:23 EAT 93 Views | ~ 1 minute

assistALL App Launched in Nairobi County's Level 4 & 5 Hospitals

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Transforming healthcare accessibility for Nairobi's Deaf community was the focus of a critical two-day event that concluded on May 29, 2025, at the Kenya Institute of Special Education. The program, which kicked off on May 28th, 2025, saw Signs Media Kenya, in partnership with the Nairobi City County Government, officially launch assistALL App. The initiative broadly focused on Understanding Disability, Human Rights, and Accessibility, with the second day's discussions specifically focusing on Disability-Inclusive Clinical Practice, Communication, and Community Engagement.

The assistALL app is set to roll out in a pilot program across Nairobi County's key Level 4 and Level 5 health facilities from June 1st through December 31st, 2025. This initiative guarantees Deaf patients in these healthcare facilities immediate access to on-demand Sign Language interpretation services, ensuring seamless communication with healthcare providers.

Addressing the event, Dr. Essam Said, the Director of Medical Services for Nairobi County, provided crucial context by highlighting Nairobi's unique demographics. He noted the city's current population stands at 5 million, with a significant 58% residing in informal settlements, based on the 2019 census. Dr. Said stressed the need for a deeper understanding and refinement of the program's impact, ensuring it effectively serves this diverse population.

Dr. Said conveyed the county's ambitious vision for the assistALL app, foreseeing a future where individuals skilled in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) could generate income through the platform, creating new economic opportunities. He affirmed Nairobi City County's pride in partnering with Signs Media Kenya Limited to transform the lives of the Deaf, expressing his excitement for the impending transformational changes and a strong commitment to solution-oriented approaches.

Also speaking at the launch was Luke Muleka, the Founder and Managing Director (MD) of Signs Media Kenya. Mr. Muleka reinforced the need for collaborative action, stating that Signs Media Kenya Limited was actively seeking collaborators to champion disability inclusion. He made a direct appeal to healthcare workers, urging them to become integral partners in this significant initiative.

The MD further elaborated on the partnership with the Nairobi City County government during this pilot period. He explained that this collaboration would enable Signs Media to understand how the Deaf consume healthcare services and to identify various challenges they face in this sector, so that these issues can be addressed later. He also confirmed that the assistALL app is currently actively operating in health facilities in both Busia and Mandera counties, demonstrating its proven efficacy.