Hearing Care in Rural Cambodia
Cambodia is another sad example for how devastating and long-lasting the effects of war and reign of terror are. Even after more than two decades of strong economic growth, Cambodia still faces a lot of challenges, especially in the sectors of health and education. According to the world bank still 33 percent (or approx. 0.5 million) of children under five years are stunted. Rural areas are much more affected than the cities.
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In developing countries like Cambodia, chronic middle ear infection is a leading cause of hearing loss, particularly in children. The risk factors for infection are linked to poverty and are exacerbated by the lack of affordable, reliable healthcare. Children are particularly susceptible due to their developing immune system. Less than 3% of those who need hearing aids have one. When hearing loss is present from birth or a young age, a child cannot develop speech and spoken language appropriately. And in any case hearing disabilities are high risk factors for loneliness and isolation.
Based on global statistics, fifty percent of hearing loss is preventable. It is estimated that there are at least 1.4 million people with hearing loss in the country. Many more are at risk of developing hearing loss due to the high incidence of middle ear infection, particularly in rural poor areas. As well as the impact on education, hearing loss is likely to cause difficulties in gaining employment, with those with hearing disability reporting higher rates of unemployment and lower salaries.
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To fight this in 2003 the local NGO “All Ears Cambodia” (AEC) was founded. It runs outreach clinics in eight provinces as well as in the Phnom Penh municipality to bring healthcare to those in need and focuses on the weakest and hardest hit.
In the project financed by the Tereska-Foundation All Ears Cambodia in partnership with Johanniter International Assistance develops a sustainable service in ear and hearing care focusing on key communities in three rural provinces in Cambodia. Early identification of hearing impairment in children is a key focus, as is maintaining ear and hearing health in families to improve socio- economic prosperity. Services include primary ear health care for the prevention of hearing loss, and mitigation of the impact of hearing disability through the provision of hearing aids. Education workshops are delivered in key communities (including schools) to raise awareness of ear care, hearing loss prevention, and symptom identification thus improving ear health and ensuring timely referral for treatment and rehabilitation.
The project is delivered in three rural provinces in northern and central Cambodia. Primarily the project focuses on Rukhakiri District in Battambang province, north-west Cambodia. AEC has established a Community Ear Clinic in Prey Tralach village which serves all five communes of the District as well as receiving beneficiaries from further afield in Battambang and Pursat Provinces. Inhabitants of these areas are typically poor agricultural workers, most living in thatched roof homes and with poverty affecting families at a higher rate than the national average. The AEC team works directly with the village leaders and teachers to reach out to those most vulnerable. In addition, relationships are developed with other NGOs and health services operational locally to identify those in need.
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