The World Health Organization Programme on Prevention of Hearing Loss and Deafness held their Third Stakeholders’ Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on 3-4 July.
Ida Institute Managing Director Lise Lotte Bundesen attended the meting, where work by WHO in ear and hearing care was shared along with case studies demonstrating implementation of the 2017 World Health Assembly resolution.
Following the recommendation of the World Health Assembly resolution, it was announced last year that the World Report on Hearing will be published on World Hearing Day 2020. At this Stakeholders’ Meeting, the content and structure of the report were presented, including the need to make tackling hearing loss a public health priority, development and implementation strategies, and target audiences of policy makers, international organizations, professionals, and patient groups.
The World Hearing Forum was also launched at this meeting with the vision is to eradicate preventable hearing loss. The World Health Forum seeks to make it possible for people with hearing loss to achieve their full potential through rehabilitation, education, and empowerment. Advocacy through the WHF for ear and hearing care will be at global, regional, national, and local levels.
For more information, visit the WHO’S page on deafness prevention.