The Ministry of Health will continue to expand the hearing aid programme next year.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony made this disclosure recently, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said.
The minister noted that persons had to expend $65,000 for this service before the launch of the free hearing aid programme.
Some 500 persons with hearing impairments have benefitted from this initiative thus far, particularly in Region One.
The government has also procured some 4,500 spectacles through the ‘snap on’ spectacles programme.
“Many times, if you go to the villages, they don’t have access to this type of care…In this region [One], we have already started that programme where we are going into the villages, we are testing people’s eyes right there and if they need a spectacle within five minutes of testing their eyes. They will get a pair of spectacles,” the minister told DPI.
A team is deployed to the communities to do eye examinations and spectacles are provided to those who require them.
The health minister said that government will continue to bridge the gap in the provision of health care services in hinterland communities through the ‘snap on’ spectacles and hearing aid initiatives.
Some 597 spectacles were distributed through the snap on spectacles initiative.
So far, 23 spectacles were shared in Region Ten, 124 in Region Seven, and 450 in Region Eight.
