^{_{By Vivian Mugarisi}}

Rushinga, Zimbabwe - To build the capacity of health care professionals to provide essential ear and hearing care services to communities, the Ministry of Health and Child Care conducted a four-day training from 25 -27 October 2023 in Rushinga District, Mashonaland Central Province. The training, supported by the World Health Organization Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and WHO Zimbabwe Office, sought to increase the capacity of Health Care Workers to offer integrated EHC services at the primary health care level.

Speaking after the training, District Medical Officer for Rushinga Dr Nhamo Changata expressed his gratitude for the support received and his satisfaction with the enhanced capacity of healthcare workers in the district to manage common ear conditions. He noted that the training will enhance provision of ear and hearing care services in the district and will alleviate the financial burden most people when accessing services at secondary and tertiary levels of care.

A nurse from Chimhanda clinic echoed the same sentiments, expressing her appreciation for the training and the valuable knowledge and skills she gained. She remarked on how they used to refer simple cases to the hospital due to their inability to handle them. She particularly praised the practical sessions, which she found highly effective in facilitating understanding and retention of the training content.

Hearing loss is a major non-communicable disease that affects people of all ages. It has a significant impact on individuals and society. According to the WHO, over than 5% of the world's population, or 430 million people, need rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss. In March this year, WHO released the Primary ear and hearing care training manual. The manual is a practical guide on the prevention, identification and management of hearing loss and common ear diseases. It can be used to train health workers and doctors who work at primary healthcare level. It contains modules on the mechanism of hearing, conducting ear examination and hearing assessment, guidance on prevention, management, and referral of common ear diseases, as well as rehabilitation of hearing loss. It includes hands on practical activities for skill development. 

To effectively implement the Primary Ear and Hearing Care training manual, AFRO conducted a comprehensive situation analysis and produced a report that highlighted the need to decentralize packages for ear and hearing care services at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. AFRO subsequently developed two ear and hearing care modules tailored for PHC: chronic suppurative otitis media and screening for hearing loss in children for early intervention. These modules were part of the materials used to train the health workers who included doctors and nurses.

The training equipped participants with the knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, and treat patients presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing loss, the two most prevalent ear conditions in Africa. An ear nose and throat specialist provided hands-on demonstrations of ear examinations using autoscopes and ear washout techniques. This training is anticipated to make a substantial contribution to the enhancement of ear and hearing care service delivery in Rushinga District and beyond.

WHO Representative for Zimbabwe, Prof Jean-Marie Dangou, emphasized the importance of a person-centered integrated approach to ear and hearing care prevention and control.

He stated, “WHO advocates for a person-centered integrated approach to ear and hearing care interventions. This approach emphasizes the integration of ear and hearing care services into the primary healthcare system to achieve universal health coverage. WHO urges governments and partners to take action, ensuring comprehensive and accessible ear and hearing care services for all.”