The 70th World Health Assembly has unanimously approved and adopted a resolution on the prevention of hearing loss.
This is the first resolution on hearing loss adopted by the WHA in 20 years. The resolution invites the WHO to prepare its first ever world report on ear and hearing care, develop a toolkit for Member States, and support the development of safe listening standards. A progress report on implementation is requested at the WHA in two years' time.
“The passing of the resolution has positive implications for hearing care around the world,” says Ida Institute Managing Director Lise Lotte Bundesen. “The WHO’s commitment to hearing healthcare will support improvements to how hearing loss is prevented and treated globally.”
The WHO estimates that 360 million people worldwide live with a disabling hearing loss. Ida continues to support the WHO’s hearing care initiatives, such as the annual World Hearing Day, and will attend the upcoming stakeholders’ meeting in Geneva in July.