Challenge
Kwale County, located on the southern coast of Kenya, is larger than the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Approximately 900,000 people live in the region, where poverty and disability rates are above average. Currently, there are no hearing care services available in the entire county. As a result, babies and children with hearing loss often go untreated. For diagnosis and treatment, families would have to travel to private clinics in Mombasa, which is unaffordable and too far for most. One in 100 children in Kenya has hearing loss or severe hearing impairment. The Kenyan government is aware of the problem and adopted a new hearing care strategy in 2023, which this project aligns with.
How we help
Our top priorities include implementing newborn hearing screening, increasing funding for hearing aids, and developing expertise and services for treating hearing loss in children. The government welcomes any support, as the need is immense. Health sector partners have been identified and are willing to collaborate long-term. The first audiology center in the region will be established at the Msambweni County Referral Hospital. Hearing tests for babies and children will be introduced at another district hospital and 15 health centers. The program will be expanded to other regions as needed.
- Establish the first audiology center at Msambweni County Referral Hospital and expand to other areas in Kwale.
- Conduct hearing screenings in two regions, identify children with hearing loss, and provide audiological care and follow-up.
- Conduct awareness campaigns and hearing screenings in 16 smaller health centers and schools.
- Train healthcare professionals in audiological services for children.
- Develop a training program for healthcare professionals on fitting and using hearing aids in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Training College.
Our Partner
Sense International Kenya (SIK) was founded in 2005 and is a non-profit non-governmental organization that supports people with deafblindness, hearing loss, and other complex disabilities. SIK is active in 12 counties in Kenya.