[Establishment of a comprehensive ear and hearing care project in Lusaka, Zambia]

Abstract

Before 2009 there was no ear and hearing care service established in Zambia. To combat this deficit, a program was set up to provide adequate access to high-quality, affordable medical ENT services to poor people in the catchment area of Lusaka, thus rehabilitating or avoiding hearing impairments through preventive treatments, training of local personnel, and development of a national strategic ENT plan. These measures raised awareness of the need for ear and hearing care at the national level, and service provision for ear and hearing care was established in several provinces of Zambia.

Keywords: Correction of hearing impairment; Ear; Hearing impairment; Primary prevention; Sustainable development.