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Implementing a National Hearing Screening Programme in Cameroon. Preliminary Results of a Pilot Project
Hearing loss is a neglected global public heath issue. According to World Health Organization, more than 360 million people suffer from some kind of hearing impairment in the world, the majority have been sheltered by low income countries.
In Cameroon, an estimate of 800 to 2500 babies are born each year with hearing loss. Those children suffer social isolation and poverty due to their handicap. There is evidence that early diagnosis and intervention can help those children to better integrate in to society. A universal newborn hearing screening programme is the ideal setting to achieve this goal. But the high cost of devices and poor maintenance make it difficult to do.
We launched a pilot experience of universal hearing screening programme in Cameroon thanks to a young Cameroonian startup that designs and produces a 2 in 1 device to perform otoacoustic emissions and Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry.
In a public-private partnership agreement, those devices are given to public health facilities. Some other devices, were lent to private health facilities which have applied for it. Hearing screening is encouraged and done on a voluntary or physician-prescribed basis on condition of a symbolic financial contribution.
Eight devices were loaned to 8 health facilities situated in the Center region (2), the Littoral region (5) and the East region (1) in January 2018. To this date, they have performed 263 screenings by otoacoustic emissions. 31 (11.78%) patients had Fail otoacoustic emissions and we therefore performed brainstem evoked response audiometry to find out that they all suffered various degrees of hearing loss.
A Cameroon made solution can help us achieve the goal of universal newborn hearing screening programme, since the maintenance and supply issues have been solved. But a strong political will should sustain technical efforts being made.
- importance of hearing loss in the world
- need of neonatal hearing screening programme
- management of screened patients
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Jean Valentin Fokouo (POC,Primary Presenter), Ministry of Health, valentin.fokouo@gmail.com;
I am a Cameroonian born Otolaryngologist.
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
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Guy Merlin Ngounou (Co-Author), BENDO, ngounou_guy@yahoo.fr;
Cameroonian Ingineer
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
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Jean Espoir EVEHE VOKWELY (Co-Author), Essos Hospital Center, vokwely@yahoo.fr;
Otorhinolaryngologist
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
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Louis Richard NJOCK (Co-Author), Laquinitinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, rnjock@yahoo.fr;
Otorhinolaryngologist
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
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