WHO Regional Director for Africa Highlights Crucial Need for Childhood Ear and Hearing Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, issued a message on World Hearing Day 2026, emphasizing the importance of ear and hearing care for children in Africa.
An Increasing Public Health Concern
Hearing loss constitutes an increasing public health concern. Globally, more than 1.5 billion individuals experience some degree of hearing loss.
Approximately 40 million people in the African Region are affected by disabling hearing loss.
The impact is notably higher in low- and middle-income countries, where access to preventative measures, early detection, and treatment is restricted.
Impact of Hearing Loss on Children
This year's theme, "From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children," highlights hearing's essential role in communication, speech and language development, learning, and social interaction.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to children being mislabeled and can negatively affect educational achievement, future opportunities, and contribute to social exclusion.
Prevention and Intervention Strategies
A significant portion of childhood hearing loss, up to 60%, can be prevented through simple, cost-effective public health interventions.
Conditions such as ear infections and impacted earwax are often detectable early and manageable within primary health care settings. Early identification and timely care are critical for children's full participation in school and society.
Schools as Key Environments for Care
Schools serve as effective environments for early detection and intervention. Integrating hearing screening into school health programs enables prompt identification of hearing challenges and facilitates referrals to necessary services. This approach aligns with the WHO's Health Promoting Schools framework.
WHO Initiatives in Africa
The WHO Regional Office for Africa is dedicated to assisting Member States in enhancing ear and hearing care within their national health systems. Support includes providing WHO guidance, technical resources, and tools like the "Vision and hearing screening for school-age children: implementation handbook."
WHO also offers direct country support to integrate ear and hearing care into primary health care, utilizing initiatives such as the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN). This strategy aims to ensure that prevention, early detection, and treatment services reach communities with the greatest need.
Call to Action
Dr. Janabi urged governments, partners, educators, communities, and families to prioritize ear and hearing care as part of wider efforts to improve child health, education, and inclusion.
Investment in prevention, early detection, and care is seen as crucial for protecting children's ability to learn, communicate, and achieve their full potential, ensuring no child is disadvantaged by preventable hearing loss in Africa.