Awareness can prevent deafness

THE organisation for Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments in Namibia (CLaSH) already has its calendar for 2008 ready to raise funds.

The printing of the calendar was sponsored by Standard Bank to the tune of N$44 300. This year’s calendar – the tenth published by CLaSH – focuses on a parent initiative at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region, which teaches deaf children sign language.Many of these children have never been to school and their hope of attending formal education is slim.Standard Bank has donated a further N$30 000 to CLaSH for assessment and diagnostic work, which is vital in assisting those who were not born with perfect hearing, or who have lost their hearing because of poor health care.This week is Deaf Awareness Week, which is celebrated every two years in Namibia.The World Health Organisation estimates that around 40 per cent of all cases of deafness is preventable.The incidence of hearing loss and related communication problems in children in Namibia is high.Access to healthcare can often be difficult and the quality of care can be poor, especially in remote rural areas.Low awareness and irregular treatment of ear infections, the low quality of pre-natal medical care in many rural areas, malnutrition and a high incidence of malaria and meningitis all contribute to the high statistics.This year’s calendar – the tenth published by CLaSH – focuses on a parent initiative at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region, which teaches deaf children sign language.Many of these children have never been to school and their hope of attending formal education is slim.Standard Bank has donated a further N$30 000 to CLaSH for assessment and diagnostic work, which is vital in assisting those who were not born with perfect hearing, or who have lost their hearing because of poor health care.This week is Deaf Awareness Week, which is celebrated every two years in Namibia.The World Health Organisation estimates that around 40 per cent of all cases of deafness is preventable.The incidence of hearing loss and related communication problems in children in Namibia is high.Access to healthcare can often be difficult and the quality of care can be poor, especially in remote rural areas.Low awareness and irregular treatment of ear infections, the low quality of pre-natal medical care in many rural areas, malnutrition and a high incidence of malaria and meningitis all contribute to the high statistics.