Sound Seekers Marks International Week of the Deaf, presenting the story of deaf man John Kaonga from Zambia
27th September 2017 – To mark International Week of the Deaf (18th – 24th September 2017) Sound Seekers (The Commonwealth Society for the Deaf), a UK charity dedicated to helping people with hearing loss in the developing world, announces that over the past 12 months it has screened over 13,000 people for hearing loss in its clinic and outreach services in Africa. This has enabled many thousands of people with hearing loss, to transform their lives by accessing education, health and community services.
Sound Seekers is demonstrating how its work is dramatically improving lives through the story of John Kaonga from the community of Ndola, Zambia. Before Sound Seekers provided him with hearing aids, John was suffering from advanced hearing loss that was isolating him from his family and society, and reducing his quality of life.
John Kaonga comments “I can’t believe this! Before, I was unable to take part in the conversation. Now I don’t feel jealous that other people are talking. I am very happy. I can now talk to my grandchildren.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), of the 360 million people in the world living with bilateral moderate to profound hearing loss, two-thirds live in developing countries where access to audiology healthcare is usually limited or non-existent.
The impact of such conditions also tends to be greater as, without these vital services, those affected are often excluded from education and work opportunities, leading to poverty and further isolation from their communities. In order to combat this, Sound Seekers is dedicated to integrating audiology services into existing government systems such as in hospitals and schools. In addition to this, the charity trains local health professionals, which further empowers the community and ensures long-term impact on the lives of people with hearing loss.
In the case of Ndola in Zambia there were no audiology services available prior to Sound Seekers support being introduced. Thanks to generous donations, Sound Seekers have been able to install a fully equipped audiology clinic and an ear mould lab within Ndola Central Hospital. Crucially, they have also been able to train two Hearing Instrument Specialists who are now delivering the much-needed ear and hearing health services for the local community. Many people have already benefited from the audiology services put in place in Ndola, including 88-year-old father and grandfather, John Kaonga.
Sadly, as is often the case for those suffering with hearing loss, John found himself becoming increasingly isolated from his family. He was forced to rely on lip-reading and interactions with his family began to diminish in an inevitable attempt to avoid the difficulties of being misunderstood or needing to shout. John was brought into the clinic by his grandson and had his hearing tested by Anita Lungo, whose training as a Hearing Instrument Specialist was sponsored by Sound Seekers in 2016. John was diagnosed with severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
Thanks to the new facilities at the hospital, in the very same morning, Anita was able to take impressions, make ear moulds, fit and test John with two new hearing aids, with remarkable results. Anita explains, “For me it is a gift to be able to help. For every patient that enters these doors, I want to give them back their hearing.” The incredible moment in which John gets his hearing back is documented in this video case study, which allows viewers to witness, first-hand, the life-changing work carried out by Sound Seekers.
The audiology services at Ndola Central Hospital include a Hearing Assessment and Research Clinic vehicle (HARK) which provides mobile outreach services to remote areas. This year, the HARK has been focusing on weekly outreach visits to primary schools in the Ndola District to screen children for hearing loss. Furthermore, via training and awareness in local schools and health centres, Sound Seekers has trained 96 community workers in Primary Ear and Hearing Care (PEHC) in Ndola.
Donations are essential for Sound Seekers to allow them to carry out projects such as this across Africa and to reach more families and communities who are in desperate need of audiology services.
All donations, no matter how small, are greatly received and will help to transform the lives of vulnerable people. Donations can be made in the form of one-off payments, on-going monthly payments and via event fundraising. To find out more and see what your donations can do, please visit the Sound Seekers website or contact Tanya D’Souza by calling 020 7833 0035 or emailing tanya@sound-seekers.org.uk.