Organization: Pioneers of Ear and Hearing Health
Title: Community to Classroom for Serenje(C2CS)
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Community to Classroom for Serenje (C2CS)
Description:
The Community to classrom for Serenje(C2CS) event focused on raising ear and hearing health in Serenje a rural district of Zambia that has no health facility that provides hearing health services, it was implemanted by visiting schools in the district where more tha 480 pupils screened for hearing and taught about hearing health. Policy makers, teachers and local heath workers were involved in every activity. The project was implemented by the Pioneers of Ear and Hearing Health in collaboration with the MININSTRY OF HEALTH ZAMBIA through the Serenje district health office
Hearing loss remains a significant public health concern, particularly among children in rural communities where access to ear and hearing care services is limited. Many children suffer from preventable hearing problems such as impacted ear wax, ear infections, or untreated ear conditions that affect their academic performance and social development.
The objectives of the activity were to:
– Raise awareness about ear and hearing health among school children and teachers.
-Promote early detection of hearing problems among learners.
– Provide basic ear examinations and hearing screening services.
-Refer children with identified ear and hearing conditions to appropriate health facilities for further management.
SCHOOL VISITED
The Ear and hearing screening activities were conducted in the following schools:
– Chibale Primary School
-Lupiya Primary School
– Malwita Primary School
– Serenje Boys Secondary School
ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED DURING THE WORLD HEARING DAY COMMEMORATION
The following activities were conducted during the outreach:
-Health education sessions on ear and hearing care for learners and teachers.
– Hearing screening and ear examinations for school children.
– Identification of children with possible ear and hearing conditions.
– Referrals of children requiring further medical evaluation and treatment.
– Community sensitization on the importance of early detection of hearing loss.
THE OUTCOME OF THE ACTIVITY
A total of 480 children From the four schools were screened.
Out of the screened children:
44 children were referred for further management due to various ear and hearing conditions.
Breakdown of referrals:
-26 children had severely impacted ear waxand were referred to nearby health facilities for ear irrigation.
-6 children were found with perforated ear drums and were referred to the University Teaching Hospital Zambia Beit Cure Hospital for possible surgery.
-12 children who complained of reduced hearing ability were referred to Kabwe Central Hospital, the nearest facility providing hearing health services, for further hearing evaluation.
IMPACT OF THE C2CS WORLD HEARING DAY ACTIVITIES
The project helped to:
-Increase awareness of ear and hearing health among learners and teachers.
– Identify children with untreated ear conditions that could affect their learning ability.
– Facilitate early referral and treatment for children with hearing problems.
– Strengthen school health services through hearing screening activities.
CHALLENGES FACED DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTIVITY
Some of the challenges encountered during the activity included:
– Limited access to specialized ear and hearing care services in rural areas.
– Transportation challenges for referred children to reach referral facilities.
– Limited awareness among communities about hearing health services.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To improve future activities, the following are recommended:
– Increased community sensitization on ear and hearing health.
– Strengthening collaboration with health facilities to improve referral systems.
– Expansion of the screening program to reach more schools and communities.
– Provision of portable ear and hearing screening equipment for outreach programs.
Primary site: AFR – Zambia
Region: AFR
Impactful Story:
A story of the Deputy headteacher of Mukando primary school who has been living with Hearing loss for the past 2 years according to her she thought there was something that ocluded her ears thats why she was having difficulties of hearing in meetings and commmunicating with the learners. After her ears screened , Otoscopic findings where normal, she was then referred to Kapiri Urban Clinic for hearing testing, which showed moderate hearing loss, the patient was fitted with hearing aids and feedback was given to us how she so happy with the use of Hearing Aids.
General Photos
Giving hearing health awareness to pupils at Mukando Primary
Doing Otoscopy on a Grade 3 pupil
Giving Hearing Health information to Teacher Namonje
Ear Screening grade 1 at Mukando Primary School
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: persons with disabilities (including hearing loss), children and adolescents, older adults, migrants or refugees, rural or remote population
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: Yes
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: No