120 Persons benefit from custom hearing aids
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 21, 2018
Scores of hearing-impaired persons received free, custom-made hearing aids as part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s partnership with the Ministry of Public Health.
Many of the beneficiaries lost their hearing due illness, age, or due to a genetic condition at birth.
In March, over 500 patients received free hearing screening and impressions during the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s first phase of its Guyana hearing mission initiative for 2018. This ensured that upon their return, each patient would receive a specially customized aid.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, told members of the team and the recipients of the hearing aids that the government wants all its citizens to enjoy the good life and as such, is continuously putting measures in place to better the lives of its people. “We care, the people of Guyana and the Government are grateful for the Starkey Foundation Mission, they’ve continued to engage in helping us with hearing solutions for the hearing impaired and we know that [the hearing aids] are going to really benefit them.”
Tami-Ann Young, Regional Coordinator, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) she was elated that the patients actually came to receive their hearing aids. “They really want that chance at hearing. Today we’re actually finding their power level and volume that’s most comfortable for them so that they can be fit comfortably, but what’s most exciting about the programme is that along with the Ministry of Health, we have volunteers and the audio-techs who work within the ministry who provide monthly aftercare to our patients.”
The Foundation first came to Guyana after Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Co-Founder, Tani Austin met the First Lady Sandra Granger at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in 2015. Starkey Hearing Foundation is dedicated to building better lives for hearing-impaired people around the world and has served more than one million hearing impaired persons worldwide, providing them with custom-made hearing aids.
By: Nateshia Isaacs.
Images: Anil Seelall.