Hundreds of Narok residents with hearing problems volunteered for a one-day free check-up, thanks to Narok County Referral Hospital management, which organized the free camp to mark World Hearing Day.
Narok County Director of Health Dr. Francis Kiio said over 200 people volunteered for the free camp, where they were attended by doctors who have specialized in Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) complications.
Dr. Kiio said the main aim of the camp is to create awareness of hearing impairments and to screen patients with such and related conditions.
“This is the first time we are commemorating this day. Our main aim is to create awareness and offer solutions, and those whom we cannot attend to are referred to other facilities so that they can get special packages of treatment,” he said.
The Director advised residents with relatives suffering from hearing impairments to bring them to the hospital for checkups and treatment as some conditions are easy to treat.
He called on those who had received treatment to act as ambassadors of spreading the good news in their localities to encourage more people to seek medication in the hospitals.
John Ole Nkaiyaka, a resident of Narok West Sub County who had brought a patient with a hearing condition to be treated, lauded the hospital management for marking the day with a free medical camp, saying many people were suffering silently because of the huge treatment cost.
“I am happy for this event and I appreciate the hospital management for offering these services. Many people in the villages are suffering from hearing conditions but fear going to the hospital because of lack of money,” he said.
Nkaiyaka called on the hospital management to organize such camps in the villages to help more people with hearing complications.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), World Hearing Commemoration Day is marked every 3rd of March to create awareness, improve access and reduce costs of unaddressed hearing loss.
This year’s theme was ‘Changing Mindsets, let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all’.
By Ann Salaton and Timothy Tobiko
