KCCA links up with experts to offer free hearing services

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has teamed up with Ian Hutcheon Clinic for Children (IHCC) to treat people with hearing problems. They will also give free hearing gadgets  to the people of Kampala city at KCCA Kisenyi health unit.

The partnership was announced during the World Hearing Day commemorations that were organized by KCCA on Saturday at KCCA Kisenyi health unit.

According to Dr. Sarah Zarwango, a medical supervisor at KCCA, the treatment and gadgets will be offered to children between 0 to 16 years first, adding that children hearing problems can be quickly treated once detected earlier.

Zarwango said, "The treatment and gadgets will be offered to children first, as their cases can be quickly treated if detected earlier."

A medical staff examines a patient’s ears

 
She noted that the number of hearing problems is on the raise in country adding that 60% of the patients with hearing problems are children.

Dr. Paul Choudhury of the IHCC said, most of the children are born with hearing problems and others get them as they grow up after birth.

Choudhury added that most parents realize hearing problems in their children late and delay taking them to hospitals for treatment which worsens their condition.    

He added that taking a lot of un-prescribed drugs during pregnancy causes hearing problems in children and urged mothers to avoid them.

Choudhury further advised parents to take their children for immunization and closely follow their reactions to noise to tell whether they have hearing problems or not.

He also tipped the youth to avoid too much noise especially when using ear phones adding that it also causes hearing problems.

Apollo Muhangi, the manager outreach programs at IHCC told the New Vision that they will teach KCCA medical personnel how to handle hearing cases in the five years they are going to operate in Kampala to enable the services move on even after they leave to other districts.

 

He added that they are finding poverty amongst the people a challenge, adding that most of them fail to get transport to health centers for the free treatment.

However Muhangi said they have come up with a mobile clinic which will reach out to people in their areas.

Josephine Nansereko, 15, said she had her ears screened and the doctors found out that there was much wax causing hearing problems.

She added that her ears were pumped and cleared free of charge and thanked the team for the services.