World Hearing Day supported

WORLD Hearing Day, celebrated on Wednesday, 3 March, calls upon governments to integrate ear and hearing care into national health plans.

Marked by the theme ‘hearing care for all’, this day draws attention to the needs of all people living with or at risk of hearing loss and ear diseases. This year sees the launch of the World Health Organisation’s first World Report on Hearing.

In support of this special day and in recognition of the needs of those living with unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases, eDeaf which is a proudly deaf-led organisation that offers training courses and learnership programmes to empower deaf communities for business, are offering free deaf sensitisation workshops during March and April, on a first come first served basis.

“Globally, nearly 450 million people live with disabling hearing loss. When unaddressed, hearing loss has a huge impact on those affected and is the cause of significant financial losses to our economy,” said e-Deaf marketing and communications manager, Nicky Bezuidenhout.

In addition, eDeaf has recently translated a series of World Health Organisation Ear Care posters into South African Sign Language (SASL), including tips for hearing aid users, discharging ears and ear hygiene and care. eDeaf operates nationally and through their partnered solutions approach, strive to provide the open labour market with trained and skilled deaf people who are ready to become part of the mainstream economy.

“We have over 1 000 deaf learners in learnerships every year, with an 80 per cent retention rate, 90 per cent competency rate at the end of each learnership and over 80 per cent of our students find employment thereafter. eDeaf, together with our partners, are responsible for these deaf learners earning a monthly stipend, moving a previously economically inactive community to one that contributes to the country’s GDP and helps grow South Africa.”

For more information contact Nicky by sending an email to nicky@edeaf.co.za