Surgeons bring back the music

TWO highly skilled ear, nose and throat surgeons from Germany have arrived in Namibia to operate on people with hearing problems.

The doctors were joined by Namibian specialists, who together improved the lives of 42 people, mainly children from the Oshakati area. The project, which is in its third year, is called Operation Omakutsi III.’Omakutsi’ is the Oshiwambo word for ‘ear’.It involves operations to restore hearing, improve impaired hearing, or at least prevent further deterioration.The project will have a significant impact on the daily lives, future development and opportunities open to the children involved.The original idea for Operation Omakutsi came from the work of Hark, the mobile audiology clinic of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which is doing outreach work from Oshakati Hospital.A high number of children were being diagnosed with hearing impairments that could be solved by ear surgery.However, this surgery was not easily accessible and where available it involved long waiting lists.The first Operation Omakutsi was in 2003 and was followed by Operation Omakutsi II the following July.Each time over 40 children were operated on.Operation Omakutsi III will involve Namibian and German doctors.The two renowned ear specialists from Germany are Dr Jurgen Lautermann and Dr Gotz Lehnerdt.They are joined by Dr Ailly Imbangu, a Namibian who is currently undertaking specialised studies in South Africa.All have been involved in Operation Omakutsi in the past.Dr Johnnie van Tonder from Windhoek will again undertake the pre- and post-operative care of the patients.Dr Jason Shaende, an ear, nose and throat specialist from Windhoek, will take part in Operation Omakutsi for the first time this year.Working free of charge in Oshakati, with the support of Oshakati hospital staff, the specialists will perform delicate middle-ear operations on over 42 patients.The patients have already been identified and the operations will treat their hearing impairment by, for example, repairing perforated ear drums resulting from severe ear infections, or replacing bones damaged by the same condition.Project Omakutsi is organised through the Association for Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments of Namibia (CLaSH), in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Social Services.It is funded by donations from Namdeb, Air Namibia and individual donors in Germany.The project, which is in its third year, is called Operation Omakutsi III.’Omakutsi’ is the Oshiwambo word for ‘ear’.It involves operations to restore hearing, improve impaired hearing, or at least prevent further deterioration.The project will have a significant impact on the daily lives, future development and opportunities open to the children involved. The original idea for Operation Omakutsi came from the work of Hark, the mobile audiology clinic of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which is doing outreach work from Oshakati Hospital.A high number of children were being diagnosed with hearing impairments that could be solved by ear surgery.However, this surgery was not easily accessible and where available it involved long waiting lists.The first Operation Omakutsi was in 2003 and was followed by Operation Omakutsi II the following July.Each time over 40 children were operated on.Operation Omakutsi III will involve Namibian and German doctors.The two renowned ear specialists from Germany are Dr Jurgen Lautermann and Dr Gotz Lehnerdt.They are joined by Dr Ailly Imbangu, a Namibian who is currently undertaking specialised studies in South Africa.All have been involved in Operation Omakutsi in the past.Dr Johnnie van Tonder from Windhoek will again undertake the pre- and post-operative care of the patients.Dr Jason Shaende, an ear, nose and throat specialist from Windhoek, will take part in Operation Omakutsi for the first time this year.Working free of charge in Oshakati, with the support of Oshakati hospital staff, the specialists will perform delicate middle-ear operations on over 42 patients.The patients have already been identified and the operations will treat their hearing impairment by, for example, repairing perforated ear drums resulting from severe ear infections, or replacing bones damaged by the same condition. Project Omakutsi is organised through the Association for Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments of Namibia (CLaSH), in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Social Services.It is funded by donations from Namdeb, Air Namibia and individual donors in Germany.