Ikupa Initiative for Integrated Sustainable Community Development in collaboration with African Bible College (ABC) on Saturday conducted a hearing outreach exercise at Bwiba School of the Deaf in Karonga District to provide hearing aids to those in need.

In an interview on Saturday, ABC Clinic audio technician Mwasoni Phiri said they screened 51 learners and two teachers during the two-day assessment exercise.

He said: “Out of the 53, 45 learners and two teachers need hearing aids.

“One learner has normal hearing, but does not have speech while another one has infected ears so she was not screened.”

Phiri (R) assessing a learner during the mobile clinic

In a separate interview, the school’s head teacher Sarah Nkuna said they need more partners to achieve inclusive education.

She said: “This initiative will help learners acquire hearing aids that will enhance detection of intelligible sound as well as communication in class.

“However, we lack sign language learning and teaching materials, including computers and teachers’ houses. We also appeal for the construction of a fence around the school to prevent learners from going out of bounds.”

Ikupa Initiative for Integrated Sustainable Community Development programmes officer Grace Phiri said her organisation worked with a German volunteer expert Heidrun Schwope-Conrad.

She said the expert discovered that the learners had varying degrees of hearing problems; hence, initiating the outreach programme.

Said Phiri: “The expert coordinated with a German organisation called Aktion who provided funds to support our outreach exercise and provide hearing aids.

“In turn, we identified African Bible College to support the work.”

She said they believe that if the children access the hearing aids, they will improve in terms of hearing and communication, which is important in the education process

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