3 communities benefitted from free hearing screening

Three (3) deprived communities in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District of the Central Region have benefitted from free hearing screening as part of the Extended Rehabilitation Services (Community Outreach) by the University of Education, Winneba.

The move was to ensure that those in the selected communities also benefitted from quality Health Care to ensure development in those areas.

The leader of the team, Dr. Samuel K. Hayford, who is the Head of Department at the Special Education of the University of Education, Winneba, mentioned aging, exposure to noise, damage of the auditory nerve, infections, ear wax build –up, head injuries or tumours among others as causes of hearing loss.

He therefore advised community members to avoid excessive noise, jokes and plays that involve slapping or knocking of the head and self-medication but rather report any ear problem to the nearest ENT nurse or care expert, when in doubt and added that, they should seek for professional advice.

The communities were Ansafona, Asebu and Moree, at a separate meeting with the inhabitants, Dr.Hayford advised them to avoid using sticks, cotton buds and other things for their irritating ears.

He called on Ghanaians in general to report any hearing difficulties to authorised hospital and clinic for appropriate medication in order to prevent any impairment.

Dr. Hayford appealed to philanthropists and other organisations to support the exercise since the University of Education alone could not shoulder all the responsibilities.

He also disclosed that plans were far advanced to factor free eye screening into the programme to better serve the people in the Central and Western Regions.

Chiefs in those communities expressed their gratitude on behalf of their people and called for regular exercise of such nature.

A team of audiologists, a lecturer, supporting staff and two officials from the National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO) screened about five hundred and forty four (544) people from the three Communities.

The programme was initiated by the special education department of the University of Education Winneba and was sponsored by sightsavers international.