The Mountain Journal
The health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale launched Kenya’s first structured universal newborn hearing screening programme .
Duale described the hearing system as a landmark initiative that will significantly improve early diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss among newborn children.
He spoke after he visited the Centre of Excellence for Ear Screening and Auditory Therapy at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) before he opened the hospital’s Second Annual Scientific Conference.
Duale said the initiative reflects the power of research, innovation and strategic partnerships in transforming healthcare, noting that hearing loss affects more than one million Kenyans and, if left undetected, can have lifelong consequences on communication, education and social inclusion.
He revealed that KUTRRH’s school and community screening programme has reached over 900 with hearing challenges, while 109 have already been fitted with hearing aids.
KUTRRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zainab Gura said the hearing initiative is part of the hospital’s broader commitment to delivering data-driven and specialized healthcare through collaboration with the Ministry of Health and development partners
