05 Mar 2024

Positive healthcare seeking behaviour is encouraged in order to maintain good ear and hearing health. 

A press release from the Ministry of Health says positive healthcare behaviour will also help reduce cases of hearing loss, which are mainly due to ear infections, noise exposure, unsafe listening, rubella and meningitis, as well as the use of dangerous items such as match sticks, pen caps and feathers. 

The press release also informs the public that on Friday March 1, Botswana will join the rest of the world in observing the World Hearing Day in Maun at Life Centre, Sedie ward. 

“March 3 of each year has been sanctioned by the United Nations as a day of promoting and raising awareness on the prevention of deafness and hearing loss, under the auspices of the World Health Organisation,” says the press release. 

The World Hearing Day will be observed under the theme; Changing Mindsets: Let’s Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for all.” 

The media release says the theme underscores the importance of addressing the challenges of societal misconceptions and stigmatisation associated with ear and hearing care, deafness and hearing loss. 

“The theme also resonates well with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s priority five of the Reset and Reclaim Agenda, which calls for mindset change. 

Batswana are therefore, are called upon to embrace and support people with hearing challenges,” states the press release. 

Regarding healthcare services, the theme advocates and calls for integration and access to quality ear and hearing care services in the continuum of health services. 

The activities of the day will focus on the sharing of messages about safe listening, ear care and management of deafness or hearing rehabilitation. Ends