Organization: Center for Ear, Hearing & Speech (HEARS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Title: World Hearing Day 2026
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
World Hearing Day 2026
Description:
World Hearing Day 2026: Official Campaign Report
Organization: The Center of Ear, Hearing & Speech (HEARS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.
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Executive Summary
In alignment with the World Health Organization’s global initiative, the Center of Ear, Hearing & Speech (HEARS) at UKM, in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Health (Titiwangsa District Health Office, and Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic) and specialized academic programs (Audiology Program, Faculty of Health Sciences UKM and Special Education Program, Faculty of Education UKM), executed a comprehensive public health campaign for World Hearing Day (WHD) 2026. Spanning from March 3 to April 2, 2026, the campaign focused on pediatric hearing loss, community screening, and the professional development of future healthcare providers. The theme for this year’s WHD 2026 was “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for Every Child”.
1. Media Advocacy and Public Engagement
The campaign commenced with high-impact media advocacy:
• Media Outreach: Associate Prof. Dr. Cila Umat, Head of HEARS, delivered a targeted address on Pediatric Hearing Loss via Media Selangor TV on March 3.
• Digital Engagement: An online WHD 2026 quiz was conducted from March 5–10, attracting 1,271 respondents across all 14 Malaysian states. The demographic reached was predominantly youth (ages 13–17), effectively fostering early awareness. Three participants, each won the major prizes of RM100 cash and two participants won the consolation prizes of RM50 each from the organizing team.
2. Community-Based Interventions
Two major physical events were hosted at the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic to provide direct public health services:
• Pediatric Focus (March 5): This event utilized innovative project-based learning. Children engaged in tactile clay activities to learn ear anatomy, guided by UKM student volunteers. Educational booths provided resources on “Dangerous Decibels” and support for children with comorbid hearing loss and autism.
• Campaign Finale (April 2): The closing ceremony featured five hearing-health industry partners and provided on-site services. The centerpiece was the Audiology Mobile Booth, which offered free hearing screenings to the general public.
3. Educational Impact and Student Development
A significant outcome of the campaign was the enhancement of clinical and “soft” skills among UKM Audiology students. Participants reported substantial growth in the following domains:
• Clinical Proficiency: Transitioning from theory to high-volume patient management.
• Soft Skills: Improvements in leadership, group management, and public health advocacy.
• Communication: Overcoming public speaking anxieties while engaging with diverse populations.
Students rated the program’s relevance to their professional development at 4.80 out of 5, citing the value of “real-world” clinical exposure.
Conclusion
The WHD 2026 campaign was officially closed by Professor Dr. Zahara Abdul Manaf (Deputy Dean, Industrial and Community Networking, Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM) and Dr. Mohd Safwan Ibrahim (Head, Titiwangsa District Health Office, Kuala Lumpur). The success of this initiative underscores the importance of University-Industry-Community engagement in addressing childhood hearing loss and promoting lifelong ear health.
Primary site: WPR – Malaysia
Region: WPR
Secondary sites:Malaysia
Impactful Story:
The perceived benefits from student volunteers:
The students reported a substantial increase in their perceived abilities across four key domains:
• Communication Skills: Increased (+0.86). This was the area of greatest growth, as students learned to explain complex hearing concepts to the public and communicate with empathy.
• Overall Confidence: Increased (+0.87). Students felt significantly better prepared for future clinical placements and professional careers.
• Practical Skills: Increased (+0.71). Volunteers gained hands-on experience with pure-tone audiometry, otoscopy, and tympanometry in a field setting.
• Knowledge: Increased (+0.60). Students gained a deeper understanding of global hearing challenges and risk factors.
General Photos
Closing ceremony 2 April 2026 with guest of honours
Clay activity with a school-aged child 5 March 2026
Public Hearing Health Education by student volunteers
Student volunteers at the Audiology Mobile Booth
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: No
Special needs populations: persons with disabilities (including hearing loss), children and adolescents, older adults
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: No
WHO educational and social media used: No