Starkey Hearing Foundation set for return in March
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 22, 2018
The Starkey Hearing Foundation will be returning to Guyana in March this year to conduct another outreach, providing hearing aids and solutions to those in need. The foundation which is headed by Co-Founders William and Tani Austin will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation service to make this initiative possible.
According to details provided by Director of Disability and Rehabilitation services, Dr. Arianne Mangar, the foundation with their many volunteers will decentralise their service. Dr. Mangar indicated that “they will be at Fort Wellington Hospital on March 6, where 100-120 persons will be seen and in Georgetown, Sophia Exhibition Centre where 300 persons are expected to be seen.”
Dr. Mangar said that this is familiarly known as the first phase of the foundation’s visit to Guyana where they will conduct voice hearing tests and ear impressions. These ear impressions will go to the United States where they will be moulded and returned to Guyana for fitting in June.
Additionally, in June, the second phase of this outreach will be facilitated where hundreds of hearing aids will be distributed. In 2017, more than 500 persons benefitted from hearing devices and improved hearing during the foundation’s visit.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 360 million people have hearing loss, with the greatest number of these persons residing in developing countries. Less than three percent of these individuals can afford hearing aids or even have access to the care they need.
The Austins built the Starkey Hearing Foundation on the vision — “So the World May Hear”. Over the last three decades, the organisation’s reach has expanded from the United States, touching lives all around the world with the help of thousands of volunteers and supporters.
The foundation was established to carry out audiology services in more than 50 countries around the world. The team’s idea is to serve humanity by restoring one of the most important senses in the human body.
By: Delicia Haynes