MONROVIA – The Campaign to Promote Hearing Healthcare in Liberia, led by Church Aid Inc. (CAI), marked the second observance of World Hearing Day as proclaimed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The event saw the participation of several schools, teachers, and stakeholders from various NGOs.
The celebration commenced with a parade from the Bible College Community in Brewerville, bringing together students, nurses, members of Church Aid Inc., and community residents.
Speaking at the observance, Dr. Anthony Tucker, Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries Division at the Ministry of Health, revealed that hearing loss has not been given due priority under Liberia’s national health policy.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Tucker urged Liberians to actively promote ear and hearing care in the country. According to him, addressing hearing loss requires collective efforts from all citizens, including members of the National Legislature. He also called on individuals experiencing hearing complications to seek medical advice rather than engaging in practices that could worsen their conditions.
Dr. Tucker lamented the lack of proper hearing screenings for newborns in Liberia. “When a baby is born at a hospital or clinic, standard procedures include checking the child’s blood pressure and other vitals before handing them over to the mother. However, hearing assessments are often neglected,” he stated.
He commended Church Aid Inc. and its international partners for training hearing instrument specialists, who have helped restore hearing for many individuals over the years. Dr. Tucker disclosed that he intends to engage the Ministry of Health to integrate Church Aid Inc. into the national health policy program to address hearing loss collaboratively.
Bishop Kortu K. Brown, Board Chair of Church Aid Inc. and leader of the Campaign to Promote Hearing Healthcare in Liberia, highlighted the organization’s efforts in training hearing instrument specialists. He recalled that the initiative started with the training of four specialists in Lusaka, Zambia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and international partners. To date, an additional four specialists have been trained, bringing the total to eight.
Bishop Brown emphasized the need for stakeholders to combine efforts in promoting hearing healthcare. He revealed that the Starkey Hearing Foundation has donated several hearing aids and 18,000 batteries to Church Aid Inc. The organization aims to train at least 20 hearing instrument specialists to be stationed at major health facilities across Liberia’s 15 counties.
During the celebration and screening process on Monday, more than 200 students participated in the program, while 81 individuals were screened and tested for hearing loss. Ten individuals received hearing aids, and foreign materials, including a rock, were removed from the ears of a child, Isaac Williams.
Dr. Tucker stressed the urgency of prioritizing hearing care, noting that the absence of data on hearing-impaired individuals in Liberia hinders effective interventions. He urged the government to take hearing impairment seriously, as not all individuals with hearing challenges should be classified as deaf and mute. Instead, with the right medical intervention, many can regain or improve their hearing abilities.
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