1,200 to receive hearing aids here

THROUGH a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city government of Davao and U.S.-based non-profit organization, 1,200 people with hearing difficulties will receive hearing aids.

Davao City Councilor April Marie Dayap, in her privilege speech yesterday during the City Council’s regular session, said that the local government signed a partnership with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, an organization that committed to provide one million hearing aids within a decade in 2010.

The foundation has already distributed hearing aids to more than a hundred countries.

Dayap said that the

distribution of the hearing aids will be done through the WFA Community Based Hearing Healthcare Program which is divided into four phases: identification of patients; hearing mission wherein they will be giving hearing aids; AfterCare where patients are followed up, given counseling and provide repair assistance to damaged hearing aids; and Mainstreaming into Life where patients are given speech technique, coupled with parents and teachers training.

She said that the first phase of the project includes identification and training of partners in the community based health workers, identifying, screening, and provision of primary ear— care services to potential hearing aid candidates, gathering ear impression, and creation of custom earmolds.

“The program is set to begin its first phase on August 12 until August 15 with a target of 1,200 beneficiaries in Davao City for their 2017 mission. This is an enormous opportunity for people with hearing disabilities to finally get assistance that will change their lives--- a truly remarkable gift from our generous friends,” she said.

She added that the eventual giving of hearing aids, or the phase 2 of the project, is set in November.