Stammerers Association of Zambia Programmes Coordinator, Shepherd Mwanza, has called for increased public awareness and support for people who stammer to help them overcome stigma and build confidence in communication.
Mr Mwanza says people who stammer often face challenges in schools, workplaces and public settings, where they may be subjected to ridicule or discrimination because of their speech difficulties.
Speaking during the International Stammering Awareness Day at East Park Mall in Lusaka today, Mr Mwanza said the association is working to sensitise the public and provide encouragement to individuals and families affected by stammering.
“We are here to bring awareness to society and to offer help to people who stammer,” he said.
He stated that the association was also committed to linking parents of children who stammer with speech therapists and other support services to help them manage the condition.
Mr Mwanza, who also experiences stammering, called for engagement with school authorities and employers to ensure that people who stammer were not disadvantaged in education and employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Stammering Association of Zambia Executive Secretary, Jacob Kwanwa, has urged people who stammer to seek support, adding that the association is committed to helping them overcome communication challenges and build confidence.
Mr Kwanwa said there was a need to educate the public about stammering and the challenges faced by people who experience the condition.
“We want people who stammer to know that we are there for them and that they can reach out to us for support,” he said.
The International Stammering Awareness Day is commemorated annually on October 22 to raise awareness about stammering and promote understanding and support for people who experience the speech condition.
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