Hearing Rehab in Uganda

The Professional Certificate in Hearing Rehabilitation (PCHR) in Kampala, Uganda keeps rehab professionals at the top of their game. Over four days in July, the HHA and MED-EL’s audiology and rehab experts worked with nine professionals from Uganda to boost their skills in this important discipline. Using video reviews of their own clinical work, the rehab professionals workshopped their techniques and approaches with their colleagues and MED-EL experts.

Start of New-born Hearing Screening in Nigeria

Together with the National Ear Care Centre Kaduna, the centre of excellence in the field of ENT in Nigeria, the HHA partnered up to kick off the first large scale new-born hearing screening program in Nigeria. In two days of screening and diagnostic training in Kaduna, followed by two further days of tracking training in Abuja, 18 ENT specialists learnt to identify infants with hearing impairment and to initiate their further treatment.

Universal New-born Hearing Screening Pilot Uganda

Uganda has taken a major step in the diagnosis of hearing impairment. The HHA is supporting a systematic, quality-controlled, universal new-born hearing screening pilot programme to identify infants with hearing impairment and start them on the path of treatment. Over 4 days in March, the HHA led training sessions on new-born hearing screening for ENT’s and nurses, and coached the tracking centre personnel on systems and software. This culminated in a visit to Kawempe National Referral Hospital to conduct hands-on practical screening of new-borns.

Guest Lecture at University of Applied Sciences Krems

Lessons from the HHA are helping to prepare the next generation of health professionals to create new, life-changing programmes. Dr Christian Steppan gave a guest lecture to the students of the Master of Applied Health Sciences at University of Applied Sciences Krems on the worldwide benefits of public private partnerships in health sciences. Dr Steppan argued that improving the health systems of partner countries improves health outcomes for individuals in need.

World Hearing Day 2023 Tanzania

Awareness of hearing impairment is a major goal of the HHA; it supports public health policy and empowers people to access care. World Hearing Day 2023 in Tanzania was another chance for the HHA to collaborate with Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar-Es-Salaam to spread the message that “ear and hearing care is for all.”

World Hearing Day 2023 in Kenya

World Hearing Day in Kenya started with the launch of the “Ear and Hearing Care Strategic Plan and Guidelines 2023 – 2028.” This document sets out a plan to improve the experience of the 2.5 million people in Kenya with hearing loss. In the spirit of World Hearing Day 2023’s theme – “ear and hearing care for all” – this Plan tackles the social barriers to care as well as health infrastructure development.

World Hearing Day 2023 Benin

“We have exceeded everything that was planned,” Head of ENT at CHCHU, Prof Adjababi Wassi, told the attendees of World Hearing Day 2023 in Benin. The Professor congratulated all who had contributed to the pilot new-born hearing screening programme with the support of the HHA. Prevention and early intervention were also major themes of World Hearing Day 2023 in Benin.

WHO World Hearing Day 2023

Ear and Hearing Care for all – let’s make it a reality! Happy World Hearing Day!

Today we celebrate human hearing, together with the WHO, and stress the importance of prevention and treatment of hearing loss and especially better access to hearing aid for all.

Opening Temporal Bone Lab & Otology Training Hub in Tanzania

Continuing to grow the skill base of ENT surgeons in East Africa, the HHA opened a Temporal Bone Laboratory (TBL) at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania on 17 February 2023. The TBL will enable workshops on advanced surgical procedures for the delicate bones in and around the ear, including hearing implants. Alongside the opening ceremony, the first such workshop provided twelve surgeons with hands-on experience dissecting the temporal bone.

Africa Day 2023

On January 31 the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) hosted the Africa Day 2023 in Vienna. Sebastian Holler (MED-EL) and Astrid Taus (ICEP) were invited to introduce the international audience to the Hearing Healthcare Alliance, its vision and implementation.