WHO COVID19 Guidelines in BRAILLE LANGUAGE

Pakistan SDGs Unit Develops SDGs Indicators and Targets in Braille Language to "LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND"

Federal SDGs Unit, in collaboration with Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Social and Economic Development Associates (SEDA), UNDP and ICCO Cooperation under the umbrella of National Initiative on Sustainable Development Goals has developed WHO Guidelines and Considerations during COVID19 Outbreak in Braille. Federal SDGs Unit has been consistent in advocating the inclusion of data for disability in the National SDGs Dashboard. This huge success is primarily one of those important steps which translates the important data, researches, content and findings especially designed for the PWDs. These two publications have been disseminated to provincial units for further circulation to the Government Department, Welfare organizations, NGOs, CSOs and Private entities working for the PWDs.

The initiative is focused on the PWDs, Persons with Special Abilities under the agenda of SDGs to Leave No One Behind. The Braille guidebook includes all the official World Health Organization guidelines making Pakistan’s Federal SDGs Unit one of the first ones to take one step ahead.

The Braille is locally translated in URDU for localization in the national language. Many organizations, welfare departments and special education sectors can use the guideline for teaching of the WHO Guidelines to the persons with disability to see, but who have an in-depth command on the braille. Such individuals can have a greater insight of the details about COVID19 pandemic. The booklet indicates the precautionary measures, information about the COVID19 and its spread. Moreover, the contents make PWDs play their role in knowledge and insights of the Covid19.

Based on the daily visual contents of communication, broadcasted on TV, social media and briefings of the WHO for the social distancing measures, this booklet contains all the necessary information in Braille. The PWDs can not only benefit from this on a reader’s level but practically implement it in their lives. It is mandatory for every individual to stay safe during COVID19 which requires certain practical steps. Easily understood graphics for prevention against COVID19 come into action while browsing internet, sharing contents, driving on the road or safely doing grocery, but on the level of PWDs, this has a greater advantage of maximized awareness in their minds.

The unit is disseminating the booklets to the provincial units to further circulate among the provincial bodies, NGOs and Welfare/Special Education departments to ensure the guidelines reach the right people. This certainly is not the first time in Pakistan there is something done for PWDs, under the National initiative on SDGs. Last year as well, Federal SDGs Unit in collaboration with UNDP successfully launched the first SDGs Guidebook with details of Goals and targets in Braille in English. The word “Disability” is mentioned 11 times in SDGs and urges for the rights of the PWDs in many forms. Continuous efforts for PWDs is always included in the Annual Work Plan of the Unit. Another big project apart from braille, was the Sign Language video explanation of SDGs and Targets recorded and released last year.

All these initiatives keep the SDGs team at the Federal Unit, in continuous spirit, of working towards the PWDs in Pakistan.

 

 

Report Compiled by:

Zuhair Shabbir