eDEAF supports World Hearing Day

eDEAF supports World Hearing Day
Photo (L-R): Bukeka Beauty Meva, Siyamthanda Ngwenya and Silindile Gigaba.

World Hearing Day, celebrated on the 3rd March 2021, calls upon governments to integrate ear and hearing care into national health plans. Marked by the theme ‘Hearing care for all’, this day draws attention to the needs of all people living with or at risk of hearing loss and ear diseases. This year sees the launch of the World Health Organisation’s first ever World Report on Hearing.

In support of this special day and in recongition of the needs of those living with unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases, eDeaf – a proudly Deaf led organisation that offers training courses and learnership programs to empower Deaf communities for business, are offering free Deaf sensitisation workshops during March and April on a first come first served basis. Interested companies are invited to contact e-Deaf Marketing & Communications Manager, Nicky Bezuidenhout on [email protected]

“Globally, nearly 450 million people live with disabling hearing loss.  When unaddressed, hearing loss has a huge impact on those affected and is the cause of significant financial losses to our economy,” explains Nicky.

In addition, eDeaf have recently translated a series of World Health Organisation Ear Care posters into South African Sign Language (SASL), including Tips for Hearing aid users, Discharging ears and Ear Hygiene & Care. “We are proud to have assisted in ensuring that important ear care information is also accessible in this language,” says Nicky.

Links to the translated Ear Care posters available in SASL can be found here: https://youtu.be/yGaeB4FQzSc, https://youtu.be/iGSEHCEDZ7E, https://youtu.be/JayqRccZXro, https://youtu.be/GWgNIlwWh1U

eDeaf operates nationally and through their partnered solutions approach, strive to provide the open labour market with trained and skilled Deaf people who are ready to become part of the mainstream economy. “We have over 1000 Deaf learners on learnerships every year, with an 80% retention rate, 90% competency rate at the end of each learnership and over 80% of our students find employment thereafter. eDeaf, together with our partners, are responsible for these Deaf learners earning a monthly stipend, moving a previously economically inactive community to one that contributes to the country’s GDP and helps grow South Africa,” concludes Nicky.