Message from Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu
World Hearing Day 2025, marked annually around the world on 3 March, provides a crucial platform to raise awareness about deafness and hearing loss, and to promote access to ear and hearing care across the African continent.
Hearing is fundamental to communication, education, employment and overall well-being. Yet, in Africa, an estimated 40 million people live with disabling hearing loss, a number that continues to grow. Left unaddressed, hearing loss can hinder speech development, academic progress and economic opportunities. It can also lead to social isolation, stigma and reduced quality of life. In economic terms, unaddressed hearing loss costs African economies an estimated US$27.1 billion annually in lost productivity.
The good news is that more than 60% of childhood hearing loss can be prevented with simple public health measures. In adults, many of the leading causes of hearing loss – such as infections, excessive noise exposure and the use of ototoxic medicines – can be prevented or mitigated through timely interventions. Ear infections, impacted wax, meningitis and age-related hearing loss remain prevalent challenges, but awareness, early detection and appropriate care can make a significant difference.
A major emerging threat is the rising prevalence of recreational noise exposure. Over one billion young people globally are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud music from personal listening devices and noisy environments. Additionally, as life expectancy increases, age-related hearing loss is becoming a growing public health concern.
Despite the increasing burden of hearing loss, ear and hearing care remains under-prioritized in many African countries. However, progress is being made: 20 countries now have a designated national ear and hearing care coordinator, while 11 have established functional national ear and hearing care programmes.
While these are steps in the right direction, much more needs to be done to ensure access to quality ear and hearing care for all.
To address the challenge, we must:
Improve access to ear and hearing care, especially in underserved communities.Combat stigma and misperceptions about hearing loss through education and awareness campaigns.Strengthen national policies to integrate hearing care into primary health care systems.Expand training programmes to increase the number of skilled hearing care professionals.Invest in infrastructure and assistive devices, ensuring that hearing aids, cochlear implants and other technologies are available and affordable for those who need them.
This year’s theme, Changing mindsets: Empower yourself. Make ear and hearing care a reality for all!,is a powerful call to action. It encourages individuals and communities to take charge of their hearing health, by adopting preventive measures and advocating for better access to care. Integrating diagnosis and treatment into primary health care services, and training frontline health workers, will be critical to achieving these goals.
The WHO Regional Office for Africa is fully committed to addressing and preventing hearing loss. Recently, we conducted a regional analysis of ear and hearing care, which will help shape advocacy efforts across the region. In addition, we have developed two key modules within the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) Disease Interventions for Primary Health Care, designed to equip primary health care providers with the skills needed to diagnose and treat chronic otitis media and hearing loss.
The time to act is now. Policymakers must prioritize a multisectoral response by developing and strengthening national programmes for hearing loss prevention and care. Communities, health workers and decisionmakers all have a role to play in ensuring that ear and hearing care becomes a reality for all Africans.
Let’s work together to make ear and hearing care accessible, affordable and inclusive.
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