MUSCAT – The centre provides digital services for this segment of society via an application codenamed ‘Nafith’.
The inaugural ceremony was held under the auspices of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Hamoud Al Harthi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Affairs of Persons with Disabilities.
Sultan Al Amri, CEO of ‘Nafith’ App, said that the project constitutes a pledge to empower people with hearing disabilities and remove barriers that obstruct their communication, thereby earning them independence and ability to actively engage with society.
“This step is the beginning of a greater strategy to redefine the concept of accessibility and make it more humane and comprehensive,” he added.
The project caters to the needs of approximately 17,000 people with hearing disabilities in the Sultanate of Oman.
The centre enables beneficiaries to communicate directly with government institutions and private sector establishments through sign language interpreters. This approach contributes to facilitating transactions and promoting independence of the deaf.
The centre also offers basic digital services, including access to a sign language news portal, booking a sign language interpreter for events and offering a roaming service that helps each beneficiary explore sites that are adapted for various disabilities.
Efforts to empower people with hearing disabilities began with an earlier version of ‘Nafith’ in 2018. The experience was boosted further via an app called ‘SignBook’ and then developed into a full-fledged integrated digital platform under a more advanced version of ‘Nafith’ that has had a tangible positive impact on the community.
So far, ‘Nafith’ app and platform provided more than 8,600 sign language translation services and served more than 4,500 beneficiaries in cooperation with 35 government institutions and private sector establishments.