Discussing Newborn Hearing Screening with the Health Minister of Ethiopia
The stakeholders of the Hearing Healthcare Alliance in Ethiopia and the Austrian Ambassador in Ethiopia, H. E. Dr. Simone Knapp, on 23 October 2024, had the great honour to discuss with the Minister of Health of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba, the future of Newborn Hearing Screening in the country and its importance for people with hearing loss.
Africa Summit on Hearing Impairment.
An unprecedented historical event took place on 7th -8th of October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenia. It was organized by HHA and supported by the WHO-African Region, Hearing Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kenyan Ear, Nose and Throat Society, University of Nairobi, MED-EL and Path Medical.
The Summit represented a unique opportunity for international experts, professionals, and policymakers from approximately 20 Sub-Saharan African countries to come together, foster collaboration, share knowledge, and develop actionable strategies for the systematic treatment of hearing impairment.
Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Mid-term Evaluation of the HHA
The Application Period for the mid-term evaluation of the Strategic Partnership “Empowering the Hearing Healthcare Sector in Developing and Emerging Countries” has opened. Please click on the arrow below to find the respective Terms of Reference.
Newborn Hearing Screening Training in Ethiopia
Alongside the launch of Newborn Hearing Screening, the HHA held training sessions for 23 nurses, doctors and midwives who will carry out the programme. The HHA provided practical and theoretical sessions on the PathMedical screening devices, donated by MED-EL and the ADA. The graduates of this course will be the first link in a chain of care that will help babies with hearing impairment on the road from identification to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
Hearing Screening Launch in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has taken a significant step towards improving the health and well-being of its youngest citizens with the launch of a universal newborn hearing screening pilot programme. MED-EL and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) have partnered with local clinics and experts to deliver this life changing service.
45,741 Hearing Screenings!
The HHA has screened 45741 infants for hearing loss! Congratulations to all who have contributed to this incredible milestone!
Public Health Training in Kenya
How do you reduce the burden of hearing loss across a population? This was a key question at the second Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment (PHPHI) workshop in Africa. Between 16 and 20 October, 37 healthcare professionals from across eastern Africa gathered at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and MED-EL have partnered to deliver this valuable training which gives participants powerful, systematic tools to address hearing impairment.
“CI in Emerging Nations” Conference in Istanbul
ENT professionals from all over the world gathered in Istanbul to discuss how to improve access to hearing healthcare at the international conference “7th World Congress of Cochlear Implantation in Emerging Countries”. The Global CI Access Network hosted the 3-day conference between September 14 and 16 together with experts from all partner countries. Delegates presented on the key pillars of the Hearing Healthcare Alliance by giving examples of their implementation in their respective region.
New Hearing Rehab Workshops in Africa
The HHA is thrilled to welcome participants to our second Professional Certificate in Hearing Rehabilitation (PCHR) in Africa! After the success of the first course which finished in July, 12 new hearing healthcare professionals from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda gathered in Accra, Ghana for the first of four week-long workshops. Together, participants will develop crucial skills in the rehabilitation of children with hearing impairment through practical workshops and seminars.
Hearing Rehab Workshops in Africa
Coming from across Sub-Saharan Africa, a group of rehab professionals joined the launch of a new Professional Certificate in Hearing Rehabilitation. During the orientation session held on 20 July, participants began with a Situation Analysis bringing attention to the state of the field and the importance of rehabilitation of hearing loss. Over the coming months, there will be 12 days of practical coursework including an in-person workshop in Ghana in September.