Professions without Borders: The CanHear Uganda Project
The CanHear Uganda Project consists of a team of health-care professionals working to provide hearing health-care education and resources to a community in Uganda. The project began when Dr. Irwin Stewart first visited Uganda in 2000. Dr. Brian Westerberg, an otologist in Vancouver, was recruited by Dr. Stewart and has been the driving force behind this project since 2001. The project has expanded considerably to include groups from both Ottawa and the United Kingdom. Along with our Ugandan colleagues, we share the common goal of improving health-care, education, advocacy and research in Uganda.
Katie de Champlain, Msc, RAUD, Aud(C)
I first become involved with the CanHear Uganda Project in 2010 as an audiology student and have continued with the project ever since, having made three trips to Kampala to-date. I have a lot of compassion for individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in this world. Listening and communicating can be a significant struggle for them and I am dedicated to helping improve their quality of life; both in a local and a global setting.
In Uganda, approximately 700,000 individuals have a hearing loss. Preventable ear disease is a common cause of hearing loss in Uganda and many Ugandans cannot afford the costs associated with the management and treatment of ear disease and hearing loss. Additionally, lack of resources keeps clinicians from being able to provide high-quality service to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. Our team is hoping to help the Mulago audiology unit obtain diagnostic and hearing aid equipment so we can properly fit hearing aids for many of these individuals. The CanHear Uganda team is dedicated to finding a sustainable solution for the Mulago Hospital clinic and clinics in other parts of Uganda. Our team is currently working on a plan to deliver solar-powered hearing aid battery chargers to the community to help lower the costs associated with hearing-loss management.
My Most Memorable Moment
One of the most memorable moments I’ve experienced was during our visit to Kampala in October 2011. Our team had the pleasure of fitting a Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) on 9-year old Rodney Tamukedde.
Rodney presented with bilateral congenital atresia and microtia, the absence of the external ear canal and abnormal growth of the external ear. The BAHA allows for sound to bypass the problem areas of the outer and/or middle ear and directly stimulate the inner ear. Typically, one would surgically implant this device; however, given the basic level of healthcare in Uganda, it was best to undergo a nonsurgical route and hold the device in place with a soft band (headband).
Rodney had good language skills but was very quiet and did a lot of head nodding when his parents asked questions. And, he needed us to repeat what we were saying and speak directly facing him. After switching the BAHA on, we all saw an instantaneous change. Rodney was startled at first, but after a few moments, his smile said it all.
Rodney’s father stood about 10 to 15 feet away from his son, turned his back to Rodney and then spoke in a normal conversation voice…”What hospital are we at?” “How old are you?” “What grade are you in?” “What school do you go to?” and so forth. Rodney was able to answer every question without asking us to repeat. The BAHA clearly made an incredible difference to Rodney’s ability to hear.
Since I left Uganda, the family has remained in contact and has said that Rodney is performing better in school and is very happy with his BAHA.
Working in Uganda has been an incredible experience and I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to work with such a dedicated team. And, I am thankful that audiologists Deborah Maloon and Aaron Byrnes and medical student Rebecca Gordon were able to join me last October in Uganda to continue my efforts to help this community.