Rwanda to improve Ear and Hearing Care, Starkey Hearing Foundation to help

The National Ear and Hearing Care Plan (2018-2024) aim to ensure that no one is left behind in the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health in partnership with Starkey Hearing Foundation, have organized hearing mission activities for continuous provision and improvement of affordable promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare services of the highest quality at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV).

During this mission, all people in need will be screened to assess their level of hearing and those found with impairments will receive hearing devices."Our vision is that they may all hear. We use hearing to connect people, promote caring and respect and turn the world into a better place," Says Bill Austin, the CEO of Starkey Hearing Foundation.

These interventions come at the right time when the Ministry of health introduces Rwanda Strategy for Ear and Hearing Care to significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss and improve the management of hearing impairments in Rwanda.

According to the Minister of health Dr. Diane Gashumba, "This plan will facilitate the streamlining of efforts for the prevention and treatment of ear and hearing impairments and loss in Rwanda."

The National Ear and Hearing Care Plan (2018-2024) aim to ensure that no one is left behind in the healthcare system."This Plan will help to ensure universal accessibility (geographical and financial) of equitable and affordable quality Ear and Hearing Care services (preventive, curative, rehabilitative and promotional services) for all Rwandans in need," Says Dr. Gashumba.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries were overjoyed to receive these services. "Since she was born, my daughter neither knew my name nor my name. Since she got the hearing devices, things have changed for the best, she learned my, hers and her siblings' names and on top of that, her performance in school highly improved," says Philomina Nyirayibanje, mother of a 10-year-old daughter with hearing impairments.

Starkey Hearing Foundation was formed in 1984 by William F. Austin with a mission is to give the gift of hearing to those in need and empower them to achieve their full potential.

(With inputs from a press release by Government of Rwanda)