By Bakah Derick
The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services has confirmed efforts towards the effective implementation of the Hearing Aid Dispensing program . The Director of the institution made the remark on Friday 3 March 2023 in a message to commemorate the 2023 edition of World Hearing Day.
"In response to the increasing demand for hearing aids, the CBC Health Services has initiated a Hearing Aid Dispensing propram. This program will facilitate the procurement, dispensing and management of clients using hearing aids." Prof Tih Pius Muffih said
Recently, the institution acquired and dedicated publicly an equipment for ear surgery and cochlear implantation which according to the director's message constitute an essential part of the program aimed at enhancing access to quality ear and hearing care services in the communities.
"We are equally working hard to set up the cochlear implant Program. In the days ahead you will not need to travel out of the country for your cochlear implant because this service will be readily available at Nkwen Baptist Hospital, Bamenda." The director states.
Started in 2021, the CBC Health Services Ear and Hearing Care Program has expanded access to qualiy Ear and Hearing Care in the Northwest Region and has continued to work hard to expand the scope of ear and hearing care services both in quality and quantity by buliding a strong primary ear and hearing care base, and strengthening the capacity of the existing secondary and teriary levels for quality service delivery
"The prevalence of hearing impairment in the North West Region is estimated at 2.4 per cent from studies and we think much can still be done to reduce the incidence of new cases of children born with hearing impairment who end up living as deaf persons. There is still a little bit more to be done to fully equip our cochlear implantation services and the needs have been clearly assessed and measures are being taken to address that in future." Awa Jacque Chirac, Program Manager of the Socio-economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEPD) of the CBC Health Services told www.hilltopvoices.com.
World Hearing Day is intended to raise awareness to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to promote access to ear and hearing care services across the world with approximately 466 million people living with hearing impairment.