In commemoration of World Hearing Day, which is internationally observed on 3 March each year, MLW in collaboration with the Malawi National Association for the Deaf (MANAD), held a musical event at Chichiri Secondary School on 2 March 2023 to raise awareness around hearing.

Speaking at the event which was celebrated under the theme ‘Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality’, The Lead for Listen Hear project at MLW Tom Hampton, said this was an opportunity to highlight the project which will be assessing the suitability, accessibility, and benefits of bone conducting hearing loss devices for children with hearing loss in Malawi.

“This event was a community sensitization event and outreach session in celebration of World Hearing Day. We anticipate that more children and adults will have awareness of our study and basic primary care hearing issues and that our study team and aims will be well known to all potential participants when the study starts in the coming months,” Hampton highlighted.
The Deputy Headteacher for Chichiri Secondary School Irene Lisilira said.

“Chichiri Secondary School is one of the schools which will benefit from the Listen Hear project. Today, the team explained the screening process and the bone conduction device as well as offered hearing screening by Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital’s clinical officers and audiologists. We are very grateful.”

Over 600 children were in attendance. The event also featured a live performance by Bucci who performed his hit song about deaf awareness.,.
In a similar development, clinical officers from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital audiology screened MLW staff on 6 March and provided necessary guidance and help for those that required hearing interventions.