Safaricom Foundation, in partnership with Operation Ear Drop, will be conducting at least 240 free ear surgeries in eight regions across the country. The operations will target needy children with hearing problems though adults with hearing problems that require surgery will benefit too.
As shared by Safaricom Foundation trustee Stephen Chege at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital where the second of the surgical outreach took place, the foundation has set aside Kshs.3.356,600/- to go towards screening, surgeries and other ENT services that needy patients in the eight regions across Kenya need. Already, in Nanyuki at least 54 people have been confirmed for free surgery. Nanyuki was selected due to lack of capacity for the referral hospital to conduct ear surgeries.
“We have already been to Kisii where 14 surgeries were done last month. The next surgical camp will be in Kisumu in December. This shows our commitment towards transforming the lives of Kenyans by improving their health status,” he said.
The World Health Organisation estimates that there are 360million people globally with disabling hearing loss. 328million or 91 percent of these are adults while the rest are children. In Kenya, it is estimated that there are 600,000 people who are deaf.
Half of all hearing impairment can be prevented with immunization in children, proper antenatal and perinatal care, following healthy ear care practices and promotion of safe childbirth. This is according to the World Health Organization.