Over two million Ugandans suffer hearing loss

Joyce Moriku, the minister of state for primary health care. Photo/File

Over two million Ugandans suffer a degree of hearing loss. Joyce Moriku, the minister of state for primary health care made the revelation in a press release regarding commemoration of world hearing day.

The World Hearing Day is commemorated every 3^rd of March, with the aim of increasing awareness about good ear health and prevention of deafness.

"This year, the day will be commemorated under the theme ‘Check your Hearing' to mark the importance of having regular check-ups as a strategy for preventing Hearing loss and deafness," Moriku said.

The national celebrations will take place this Sunday March at Kampala Capital City Authority upper gardens from 9:00am to noon.

Furthermore, in honour of the day, the ministry of health and its partners have organised a number of activities in and around Kampala to commemorate the day including medical camps where services like; ear screening, treatment of ear diseases, ear/nose/throat surgery, prescription and provision of Hearing Aids will be offered, alongside exhibitions by various stakeholders.

The World Health Organisation estimates that globally, more than 466 million people have hearing loss of some degree and this is expected to increase to 630 million by 2030, and 900 million by 2050, if appropriate interventions are not put in place.

Most of these people live in developing countries of which Uganda is one.

"It was against this unacceptable prognosis, that World Health Organization declared hearing care a global priority and called member countries to develop strategies to address hearing loss," Moriku said.

The minister noted that the government of Uganda has adopted a number of other strategies to improve Hearing health such as enhancing the supply of ear drop medicines from National Medical Stores, construction of ear/nose/throat (ENT) departments in the various regional Hospitals of Mbarara, Kabale, Arua, Gulu, Soroti, and Jinja.

There are also medium sized departments in Moroto, Fort Portal, Hoima and Mubende.

"The ENT Department at Mulago National Referral Hospital is currently undergoing expansion under the ongoing rehabilitation of the entire hospital complex," Moriku said.

The government has also implemented the Deaf-Blind Project in collaboration with Sense International in Wakiso district, aimed at reducing the prevalence of deaf-blindness and offering specialized rehabilitative health care to the affected children.

The four year project operates in four health units namely; Entebbe Hospital, Ndejje, Wakiso, and Kasangati health centre fours.