Starkey Foundation's Zambian adventure delivers local gold
Africa
The graduation of 11 audiologists may not sound like big news to celebrate, but these new hearing care professionals (HCPs) from the Starkey Hearing Institute in Lusaka, Zambia are worth their weight in gold for local communities.
There is a dire shortage of HCPs in developing nations. In all, the graduates represent five countries from around Africa, and their return as trained professionals will be welcomed.
They have studied and been trained in professional ear and hearing health, including the Starkey Hearing Foundation's WFA Community-Based Hearing HealthCare Program and WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care courses, as well as the Public Health Approach for District Level Ear and Hearing Health course developed by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Graduates will now return to provide desperately-needed hearing healthcare services in their communities.
"Approximately 900,000 Zambians currently do not have hearing healthcare," says Dr. Alfred Mwamba, Au.D., Executive Director, Starkey Hearing Institute. "Our graduates have worked very hard to achieve the education and training they need to return to their home communities to help more people with hearing loss."
"The need for hearing healthcare in developing countries is immense," says Starkey Hearing Foundation Co-Founder, Tani Austin. "Starkey Hearing Institute graduates have the potential to change the lives of millions of people by empowering them to reach their full potential through the gift of hearing."
Source: PR Newswire
