Abstract Details

<< Back to Schedule

10/26/2019  |   1:00 PM - 2:15 PM   |  Ventana Ballroom C

Leading the Development of National Strategic Plans for Ear and Hearing care in low and middle-income countries; the Starkey Hearing Foundation approach in 10 countries.

Background The World Health Organization recently estimated that 466 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss globally with 80% of them residing in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Unfortunately, most countries especially LMICs do not have any roadmap to tackle the scourge in their countries despite ratifying the Agenda item 15.8 of 70th World Health Assembly in May 2017. The resolution enjoins all member states to develop National Strategic Plans for Ear and Hearing care (NSPEHC) that is integrated into the primary healthcare system under the umbrella of the universal healthcare coverage. SHF has championed the cause to support many countries in developing NSPEHC to include: Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, the Gambia, Tanzania and Malawi in sub-Saharan Africa, Jamaica and St Lucia in the Caribbean and Cambodia in Asia pacific Objective: To support low and middle-income countries in developing and implementing national plans to improve ear and hearing care Methodology We utilized the WHO ear and hearing care situation analysis tool and the manual for planning and monitoring national strategies as our guiding template. The national strategies were built upon the WHO six health systems building blocks as it relates to ear and hearing care. Summary of steps taken include: initial advocacy visits to the Honorable ministers’ team, setting up a technical working group, having 3 technical sessions each lasting 2 days on the average, a validation exercise through an expanded stakeholder’s forum, the document launches and dissemination, inauguration of implementation committee and commencement of implementation. Expected Outcome In the short term, the countries have completed the development of their national plans and are at different stages of implementation. In the long term, a reduction in incidence, prevalence and the negative impact of ear diseases and hearing loss in the countries implementing the national plans.

• How to advocate to governments on the need for National plans for ear and hearingcare
• The process of leading the development of a National plan in low and middle-income countries
• Transfering the plans into actions that will impact ear and hearingcare of the common man on the street

Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.

Handouts:
No handouts have been uploaded.

Luqman Lawal (POC,Primary Presenter,Author), Starkey Hearing Foundation/ University of Minnesota SPH, Luqman_Lawal@starkeyfoundation.org;
Luqman Lawal MD, MPH is a Public health Physician who serves as the Director of Global health and Research at the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Titus Ibekwe (Co-Author), University of Abuja, Nigeria, ibekwets@yahoo.com;
Titus S.IBEKWE MD,FWACS, FMCORL, FICS is an Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology in the College of Health Sciences University of Abuja and an Honorary Consultant at the UNIABUJA Teaching Hospital. His field of interest is on Preventable Hearing Loss and Infectious Diseases. Titus has over 40 publications in local and international journals to his credit. An advocacy of good clinical practice and Legislation, he is currently the National Vice President of Nigerian Medical Association, Chairman Legislative committee of the same body & members Infectious disease Committee of the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngolgy Head & Neck Foundation.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Isaac Mucharia (Author,Co-Author), University of Nairobi, immuthure@gmail.com;
Professor of ENT surgery

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Wakisa Mulwafu (Co-Author), University of Malawi, College of Medicine, wmulwafu2@gmail.com;
ENT Surgeon and the Chairman of the Malawi Hearing health Strategic Plan Committeee.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Kaitesi Mukara (Co-Author), Kigali University Teaching Hospital, kaibat@hotmail.com;
Biography Dr. Mukara Batamuliza Kaitesi is a Rwandese Otolaryngologist and Audiologist . She is a senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and Pharmacy. Kaitesi is the Head of ENT department, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda. She is also a CARTA fellow and a DAAD scholar pursuing a PhD in Public health at Makerere University, Uganda. Her research interest is audio-otology with a bias in primary health promotion and prevention interventions as well as advocacy and policies for ear and hearing health. She holds an MSc in Audiology from the University of Southampton in the UK, a Masters of Medicine degree in Ear Nose and Throat, Head and Neck Surgery from University of Nairobi in Kenya prior to which she was awarded a degree in Human Medicine from the now University of Rwanda.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.