Volunteers restore hearing

FOR the fourth year running, children suffering from chronic middle-ear infections have received free operations, this time at Rundu.

Operation Omakutsi, which is the Oshiwambo word for ear, started in northern Namibia in 2003. The project aims to improve or even restore the hearing of patients who suffer from chronic middle-ear infections.Also known as ‘running ears’, chronic middle-ear infections can damage the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear so much that only surgery can help.With generous support from Namdeb, individual German donors, Desert Air, Air Namibia and Kavango River Lodge and because of the close co-operation between CLaSH (The Association for Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments of Namibia) and the Ministry of Health, it was possible to bring together two ear surgeons from Germany and a Namibian doctor studying in Cape Town to become an ear, nose and throat specialist.Dr Jurgen Lautermann, Dr Goetz Lehnerdt and Dr Ailly Imbangu spent a week at Rundu last month, operating on 46 patients, most of them children.The post-operative treatment, a sensitive procedure that requires specialist skills, was provided by Dr van der Westhuizen from Windhoek.All the doctors gave their expertise and time for free in a combined effort to bring the magic of sound and the beauty of voices to children with hearing impairment.CLaSH says it is proud to have been able to organise this ear camp again and deeply grateful for all the support it received.The project aims to improve or even restore the hearing of patients who suffer from chronic middle-ear infections.Also known as ‘running ears’, chronic middle-ear infections can damage the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear so much that only surgery can help.With generous support from Namdeb, individual German donors, Desert Air, Air Namibia and Kavango River Lodge and because of the close co-operation between CLaSH (The Association for Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments of Namibia) and the Ministry of Health, it was possible to bring together two ear surgeons from Germany and a Namibian doctor studying in Cape Town to become an ear, nose and throat specialist.Dr Jurgen Lautermann, Dr Goetz Lehnerdt and Dr Ailly Imbangu spent a week at Rundu last month, operating on 46 patients, most of them children.The post-operative treatment, a sensitive procedure that requires specialist skills, was provided by Dr van der Westhuizen from Windhoek.All the doctors gave their expertise and time for free in a combined effort to bring the magic of sound and the beauty of voices to children with hearing impairment.CLaSH says it is proud to have been able to organise this ear camp again and deeply grateful for all the support it received.