Organization: Govt District Headquarters General Hospital, Padmanabapuram
Title: World hearing day awareness from “community to classrooms“
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
World Hearing Day awareness: from community to classrooms
Description:
World Hearing Day Awareness and Screening Programme – 2026
Theme: “From Communities to Classrooms – Hearing for All”
Department of ENT, Government Headquarters Hospital, Padmanabhapuram
In observance of World Hearing Day 2026, the Department of ENT, Government Headquarters Hospital, Padmanabhapuram organized a comprehensive awareness and hearing screening programme in alignment with the global theme “From Communities to Classrooms – Hearing for All.”
The programme began with a public awareness gathering at one of the busiest locations in front of the hospital gate, ensuring maximum visibility to the general public. College students and volunteers actively participated in the event. Participants assembled with placards and banners emphasizing the importance of hearing care across all stages of life, highlighting that hearing health must be protected from newborns to the elderly.
Key messages delivered through the awareness display included:
• Early detection of congenital hearing loss through newborn screening
• Importance of regular hearing assessment
• Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss
• Timely rehabilitation for elderly individuals with hearing impairment
Following the public gathering, the participants took a pledge promoting hearing health and responsible listening practices. A short awareness rally was then conducted through the surrounding public areas to spread the message of hearing care among the community.
After the rally, a brief educational session was conducted explaining:
• The importance of early hearing screening
• The impact of untreated hearing loss on communication, education, and quality of life
• Global statistics on hearing impairment based on World Health Organization (WHO) data
As part of the programme’s rehabilitation initiative, free hearing aids were distributed to elderly beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), Government of Tamil Nadu. Approximately 10 eligible individuals received hearing aids, which were fitted and demonstrated on the same day, ensuring immediate benefit and improved hearing ability.
This programme successfully combined community outreach, public awareness, preventive education, and rehabilitation services, embodying the spirit of the World Hearing Day 2026 theme: “From Communities to Classrooms – Hearing for All
Primary site: SEAR- India
Region: SEAR
Secondary sites:Tamil Nadu
Impactful Story:
As part of the programme’s rehabilitation initiative, free hearing aids were distributed to elderly beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), Government of Tamil Nadu. Approximately 10 eligible individuals received hearing aids, which were fitted and demonstrated on the same day, ensuring immediate benefit and improved hearing ability.
This programme successfully combined community outreach, public awareness, preventive education, and rehabilitation services, embodying the spirit of the World Hearing Day 2026 theme: “From Communities to Classrooms – Hearing for All

General Photos

Community participation- Rally and awareness

Fitting of hearing aid under CMCHIS (free for beneficiaries)

Awareness to Healthcare Professionals

Awareness in mass media
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: children and adolescents, older adults
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: No