Training for Community Health Centre officers in ear health and hearing care pilot

$2000 used to acquire medical equipment and printed resources for ear health training as part of Callan Services South Bougainville outreach 

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As part of The Harim Gut Mo project (see past projects) Callan Services officers undertook an otoscopic inspection of a random sample of 68 students. Ear health conditions were observed in 66% of the students tested. Ear canal health conditions were observed in 18% of the students tested and eardrum health conditions in 56%.

 

Advice was provided to the 39 students observed with ear health conditions along with additional tympanometer testing to determine how well the middle ear functions. 

 

Tympanometry can help diagnose problems that arise in the middle ear where sound is conducted from the ear canal to the inner ear.

 

65% of the students did not pass the test. 

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The high prevalence of ear health conditions not only results in short-lasting mild to moderate hearing loss but also leads to permanent hearing loss if chronic and complicated infections are left untreated.  

 

The study highlighted the lack of awareness of ear health and hearing care and treatment options. In response BBInc and Callan Services have developed a locally relevant reference manual for Community Health Centre (CHC) staff.

 

The manual and 11 otoscopes donated by BBInc will support a training pilot to be undertaken by Callan Services officers at 11 Community Health Centres in southern Bougainville on ear health care and hearing screening. 

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The training is a great value addition to an outreach program funded by South Bougainville’s District Development Board (BSSB).  BSSB expressed its concern that despite its 23-year presence of Callan Services in Bougainville it had not been funded to extend its services to South Bougainville.