According to a study by the  Medical Journal of Zambia in Lusaka’s central zone, 11.5% of primary school children aged 6 to 13 experience hearing impairment. Most of these cases (87.8%) were due to conductive hearing loss, often resulting from preventable or treatable ear conditions such as wax impaction and otitis media.

This prevalence has notably gone higher than the national disability rate of 4.4% among children aged 2–17 years, which was reported in 2015 by UNICEF, highlighting the need for enhanced ear and hearing care services, especially in underserved communities. Children who grow up without hearing face many challenges from an early age. Hearing is essential for speech and language development. Without it, children often experience delays in communication skills, fall behind in school, and have difficulty connecting with others. This can lead to poor academic performance, social isolation, and low self-esteem.

 

Displaying its commitment to improving children’s healthcare, Beit CURE Children’s Hospital hosted this year’s World Hearing Day celebrations. The event brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, partners, and community members to highlight the urgent need for accessible ear and hearing care in Zambia. The celebration began with a vibrant awareness march, underscoring the importance of ear and hearing health and the nationwide need for inclusive healthcare services.

To address the current state of affairs, Beit CURE Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), launched The Integration of People-Centred Ear and Hearing Care Project during this year’s World Hearing Day event. The EUR 1.382 million project is being generously funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the Christian Blind Mission and will run for the next 5 years. The plan aims to complement the Ministry of Health’s work in providing adequate access to quality ENT services, building local capacity, and improving long-term health outcomes for children in need.

 

Through this collaboration, Beit CURE and CBM are working to ensure that children with ENT conditions, many of whom come from underserved communities, receive the life-changing care they deserve.

Building On Six  Years Of Progress

Over the past six years, substantial investments, supported by the German and Scottish Governments through Christian Blind Mission, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Beit CURE Children’s Hospital, and various key stakeholders have strengthened Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) healthcare in Lusaka, Central, and Southern Provinces. These efforts have led to the installation of modern ENT equipment at the University Teaching Hospital, Livingstone Teaching Hospital, and Kabwe Central Hospital, along with the establishment of six audiology referral centres equipped with advanced hearing screening technology.

Additionally, over 100 primary health centres have been supplied with essential ENT diagnostic tools, and a state-of-the-art Temporal Bone Laboratory has been set up at UTH Clinic 6 to support the training of ENT specialists. More than 150 nurses and clinical officers received specialised ENT training between 2018 and 2021, and over 20 audiology technicians were trained by the Starkey Hearing Institute. Furthermore, over 250 community health workers and volunteers have been trained in ear and hearing health promotion, especially in maternal and child health. These efforts have significantly improved community engagement, awareness, and access to ENT services in underserved and remote areas.

“I wish to express my gratitude to our collaborative and shared efforts, which are culminating in a healthcare system that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of every individual. As a government, we remain resolute in our commitment to scaling up and strengthening ear and hearing care services across the country, ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing essential care,” said Ministry of Health (MOH) Permanent Secretary, Technical Services, Mr. Kennedy Lishimpi, who represented Minister of Health, Dr. Elijah Muchima.

Scaling Up Services and Building Local Capacity

The new Ear and Hearing Care project is aimed at scaling up access to comprehensive ear and hearing care services across Zambia, beginning with the Eastern, Luapula, Northern, and Muchinga Provinces, and strengthening existing services in Lusaka, Southern, and Central Provinces. Future phases will expand to the Copperbelt, North-Western, and Western Provinces, guided by patient flow data to ensure maximum impact.

Although Western and North-Western Provinces are not included in the initial rollout, Beit CURE Children’s Hospital will continue supporting these regions through mobile surgical camps and outreach. The project addresses key challenges such as a shortage of trained personnel, limited equipment, and low public awareness.

To close the human resource gap, 120 nurses and clinical officers will be trained in People-Centred Ear and Hearing Care, alongside 120 community health workers who will promote awareness and support referrals to health facilities. Additionally, eight healthcare workers will receive specialised audiology training to staff four new audiology centres.

The initiative also includes setting up hearing testing booths, conducting Temporal Bone Dissection courses for ENT professionals at the Temporal Bone Lab at UTH, and piloting a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) program targeting over 11,000 newborns in Lusaka. Insights from the pilot project will shape a national strategy for early hearing detection and intervention in newborn babies.

During the event, CBM Country Director Dr Linda Kasonka said, “CBM remains dedicated to promoting inclusive healthcare services and ensuring that vulnerable and marginalised communities have access to quality ear and hearing care, through our support to Beit CURE Children’s Hospital. We train professionals, support early detection initiatives, and provide assistive devices to those in need.”

 

“We are particularly proud to be a key player in these efforts to improve access to ENT care in the country. Our ENT department has been dedicated to providing specialised surgical and medical interventions for children with ear conditions. We have partnered with global and local stakeholders to ensure that children who would otherwise face lifelong communication barriers receive the help they need. From screening programs to complex ear surgeries, our commitment to holistic, people-centred care remains unwavering,” said Frida Kabaso, Beit CURE Executive Director.

Restoring Hope To The Vulnerable Communities

 

15-year-old Stephan is one of the many children heading toward a brighter future, thanks to the life-changing care she received from Beit CURE’s ENT department. Stephan spent most of her early school years in silence, without even knowing it. She would sit quietly in class, confused and withdrawn, unable to understand why lessons felt so distant. She wasn’t being rebellious or careless; she simply couldn’t hear.

It was her teacher who first noticed something was wrong. Stephan often stared blankly, never responded when called from a distance, and struggled to keep up with her classmates and peers. When a Beit CURE ENT mobile clinic visited their district, the teacher told her mother about it, and she gladly took Stephan there to be assessed. That visit changed everything.

She was scheduled to see an ENT specialist at Beit CURE Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids. For the first time, Stephan heard the world around her: her mother’s voice, the laughter of her friends, and what the teacher was teaching in school.

 

Today, Stephan is thriving. She now eagerly raises her hand in class, laughs with her peers, and is finally catching up in school.

None of this would be possible without the support of CURE’s generous friends, partners, and donors, who go above and beyond to ensure that CURE can continue helping kids heal!

Together, we can help even more children like Stephan receive the treatment and equipment they desperately need. Will you join us? Make a gift that demonstrates the love of Christ to more children like Stepan by providing the medical care they urgently need.