Chadha, Shelly

RERO DOC Digital Library

International Ear Care Day – 3rd MarchIn 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO)released estimates which suggest that 360 millionpersons across the world live with disabling hearingloss.1 Amongst persons above 65 years of age, one outof three is reported to have hearing loss,2 yet less than3 per cent of persons receive the hearing aids theyrequire.3 Equally troublesome is chronic otitis media,which affects 65 to 330 million people across theworld.4Despite the fact that two-thirds of people withhearing loss live in developing countries,5 servicesfor hearing care remain elusive where they are mostneeded. The number of ENT surgeons per millionranges from 0 to 4 in low-income countries, as com-pared with a range of 9 to 178 ENT surgeons permillion individuals in high-income countries.6 In 18countries of sub-Saharan Africa, there is an averageof less than 1 ENT surgeon per 100 000 persons.7Moreover, the current global health priorities for devel-oping countries have yet to pay attention to hearingloss.8 The overall low level of awareness about ear dis-eases and hearing loss at all levels within society addsto the growing burden.9The World Health Assembly of 1995 passed a reso-lution drawing attention towards the growing problemand public health impact of hearing loss. This resolutionurged the WHO member states to prepare national plansfor the prevention and control of major causes of avoid-able hearing loss. Since then, WHO has worked todevelop a number of tools to assist the developmentand implementation of suitable strategies for ear andhearing care. The primary ear and hearing care trainingmanuals, guidelines for hearing aids, and guidingprinciples for neonatal and infant hearing screeningare key to the implementation of preventive and rehabili-tative strategies. A number of organisations and agenciesacross the world have joined forces with WHO. TheCBM (Christian Blind Mission), Hearing ConservationCouncil, International Federation of OtolaryngologicalSocieties, International Society of Audiology, andAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology–Head andNeck Surgery have formed a consortium to support theWHO programme for the prevention of deafness andhearing loss.The focus of this programme is twofold. A key com-ponent is the provision of technical support forcountries to develop programmes and plans for earand hearing care integrated within primary healthcaresystems. The WHO member states can seek assistancefor the planning of programmes, as well as the develop-ment of implementation strategies and monitoring tools.The other aspect of the programme addresses theneed for advocacy with global agencies, countriesand communities, to harness greater political andsocial commitment towards the prevention, identifica-tion and management of hearing loss.The International Ear Care Day is an opportunity toundertake advocacy at all possible levels: global,regional, national and community. This day was theoutcome of the Beijing Declaration made during the1st International Conference on Prevention andRehabilitation of Hearing Loss in 2007. The date‘3 March’ was selected because of the similarity ofthe figures ‘3.3’ with the shape of our ears. The dayis observed with a designated theme, decided byWHO in collaboration with its partners, collaboratingcentres and experts. The ‘day’ provides a unique oppor-tunity to work together to draw the attention of media,policy-makers, administrators, health professionals andthe general public towards the cause of hearing loss.Following a single theme helps to focus on onesingle aspect of ear and hearing care in a concertedmanner. By observing this day, we can all help tocreate a global movement. This will compel others togive ear and hearing care the attention it deserves andto show persons with hearing loss their due respect.In order to raise the profile of ear and hearing care onthe global health agenda, all of us – ear and hearingcare professionals, non-governmental organisations,collaborating centres, persons with hearing loss andtheir caregivers – must be a part of this movement.As members of the health profession, we dedicate our-selves every day to caring for our patients and theirwellbeing. By devoting one day to the public healthaspect of our chosen field, we can reach many more,and be a part of a worldwide effort to raise awarenessand resources for ear and hearing care.DR SHELLY CHADHATechnical Officer, Prevention of Blindness andDeafness, WHO HQ, GenevaAccepted for publication 13 February 2014 First published online 28 February 2014The Journal of Laryngology & Otology (2014), 128, 221–222. GUEST EDITORIAL©JLO (1984) Limited, 2014doi:10.1017/S0022215114000413https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215114000413Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 08:27:39, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available atReferences1 World Health Organization, MBD (Mortality and Burden ofDiseases unit). Global Estimates of Hearing Loss. Geneva:WHO, http://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/estimates/en/, lastaccessed on 23 February 2014.2 Stevens G, Flaxman S, Brunskill E, Mascarenhas M, MathersCD, Finucane M. Global and regional hearing impairment preva-lence: an analysis of 42 studies in 29 countries. Eur J PublicHealth (Dec 24) 2011;1–73 World Health Organization.World Report on Disability. Geneva:WHO, 2011;1024 World Health Organization. Chronic Suppurative OtitisMedia: Burden of Illness and Management Options. Geneva:WHO, 20045 Olusanya BO, Newton VE. Global burden of childhood hearingimpairment and disease control priorities for developingcountries. Lancet 2007;369:1314–17. Erratum in: Lancet 2007;369:1860. http://www.who.int/entity/pbd/publications/Chronicsuppurativeotitis_media.pdf, last accessed on 23February 2014.6 Goulios H, Patuzzi R. Education and practice of audiology inter-nationally. In: McPherson B, Brouillette R, eds. Audiology inDeveloping Countries. New York: Nova Science Publishers,2008;75–1057 Fagan J, Jacobs M. Survey of ENT services in Africa: need for acomprehensive intervention. Glob Health Action 2009;2:10.3402/gha.v2i0.19328 Olusanya BO. Addressing the global neglect of childhood hearingimpairment in developing countries. PLoS Med 2007;4:e749 WorldHealthOrganization.Report of the InformalWorkingGroupon Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment ProgrammePlanning, Geneva, 18–21 June 1991. Geneva: WHO, 1991GUEST EDITORIAL222https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215114000413Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 08:27:39, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at

International Ear Care Day - 3rd March

http://doc.rero.ch/record/291066/files/S0022215114000413.pdf

International Ear Care Day - 3rd March

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

RERO DOC Digital Library