Barring any unforeseen, the number of people living with hearing loss in Africa is projected to hit 54 million by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed.
According to a report published by the UN health agency on Monday, the number of people currently living with hearing loss in Africa stands at 40 million, with the issue costing the continent $27 million annually due to its significant impact on individuals and economies.
The report highlights how hearing loss disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable populations across the continent, contributing to existing health service inequalities.
According to WHO, untreated hearing loss in children can lead to serious developmental consequences, including delays in language development, which increases the risk of poor educational outcomes and limits career prospects. For adults, untreated hearing loss often results in isolation, loneliness, and a higher risk of depression and dementia.
One of the primary drivers of the increase in hearing loss in Africa, according to the report, is the severe shortage of ear and hearing care (EHC) specialists. The uneven distribution of the available workforce is another contributing factor, as many specialists are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations underserved.
“For example, more than 56 per cent of African countries have just a single ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for every million people, whereas in Europe, it is roughly 50 per million,” the WHO stated in the report. Additionally, more than 75 per cent of African countries have fewer than one audiologist and speech and language therapist for every million people.
The WHO also highlighted the low access to hearing aids in the region. While an estimated 33 million Africans could benefit from hearing aids, only about 10 per cent have access due to the lack of financing for EHC services, leading to high costs for patients.
The report pointed out that in children, up to 75 per cent of hearing loss in low- and middle-income countries is preventable, often resulting from infections, common ear diseases, and birth complications. However, many countries do not have systems in place for routine hearing screening for newborns.
“Even in countries with EHC programmes, related interventions are not integrated into school and workplace health programmes or healthy ageing programmes,” WHO explained, emphasizing that the lack of national policies and the low implementation of EHC services further hinder progress.
