Launch of ENT Society in Uganda

By Umar Nsubuga

Over 50 ear, nose and throat (ENT) medical specialists took part at the launch of the ENT Society in Uganda. 

The exercise was organised by Kampala Audiology and Speech Centre (KASC) and other stakeholders in Kampala.

Dan Kaija, a client relationship officer at Kampala Audiology and Speech Centre – the sponsors of the exercise – said the drive was part of efforts aimed at preventing ENT impairment and also establish connections with other experts.

"We believe more in prevention than treatment. This is why we are giving people a chance to go for early screening, so they know their status.”

Dr. Hillary Ogutti, an ENT surgeon at Arua referral Hospital, cautioned people against using sharp objects such as matchsticks to clean their ears, as they risk damaging the eardrum.

"We are not only carrying out the launch but sensitizing people, because we still lack ENT doctors and good equipment in our hospitals", said the medical specialist.
 

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A cross-section of participants who attended the event. (Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

Dr. Fiona Kunobwa Kamya, the director of Kampala Audiology and Speech Centre, said the event served as an opportunity to conduct awareness on possible causes of ear infections and hearing impairment.

Dr. Kamya, who is a trained audiologist from the UK and also a senior ENT clinical officer, suspects that the number of patients with problems of ENT could even be more because many patients had a problem with accessing suitable treatment.

"The problem of always referring patients for ear, nose and throat surgical operations to Mulago hospital and other referral hospitals will soon come to an end as Kampala Audiology and Speech Centre has been equipped with modern audiology machines.

“You can't understand how difficult communication can be until you have hearing impairment, so it's important to take advantage of visiting experts.”

Kamya pointed out that KASC does not charge for consultation.

Dr. Richard Byaruhanga said Uganda still lacks enough ENT specialists and every district hospital requires at least two ear specialists.

“Only 18 referral hospitals can do ENT operations. That's why we need to work as team.

"Some people, especially in rural areas, are convinced that hearing problems are not treatable, so they never bother visiting hospitals," he said.

"A survey carried in 2008 in Masindi district showed that 6,041 participants were enrolled and underwent audiometric evaluation and an ear examination.”
 

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The ENT Society launch took place at Protea Hotel in Kampala. (Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

The prevalence of disabling hearing impairment was 11.7% in adults and 10.2% in children. A further 2.3% of children in whom thresholds could not be measured were deemed to have significant hearing loss based on screening questions and/or sound-field stimuli.

In the study, correctable causes such as dry perforations, cerumen impaction, and chronic suppurative otitis media resulted in disabling hearing loss in 17% of adult subjects and 41% of children. Preventable hearing loss, such as meningitis and noise-induced hearing loss, was present in a further significant percentage of subjects.

The research also found that ear disease and hearing impairment was found to be important health problems in the Ugandan population.

Preventable ear disease is a major cause of hearing loss in the population.

When the study was carried out, it was hoped that the findings would draw attention to the problem in Uganda and would lead to proper allocation of resources for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss and ear disease.

In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that about 360 million people around the world had hearing impairments, with two-thirds of them from developing countries.