The commute for most individuals can exceed 10 miles on foot to reach a specialist, making access to hearing care in Zambia unrealistic for many Zambian citizens. In 2022, 60% of the population was in severe poverty, so not everyone can afford to walk long distances to get care for themselves or their families, as they are struggling to feed their families on $2 a day.
Organizations like Seeds of Hope Children Ministry and GBCZambia place strong emphasis on donations to support medical research and education to improve hearing care in Zambia. However, providing tools within an educational setting can help individuals succeed. Further studies conducted within these communities could help organizations better understand the needs of individuals who require hearing care in Zambia. Two organizations, DeafKidz International (DKI) and Zambart, address these needs and provide tools to help Zambian citizens succeed regardless of their disabilities.
DeafKidz International: Adapting Zambia’s Education
DeafKidz International (DKI) has been working in Zambia since 2013 to help children build resilience and improve education and safety for those who are hard of hearing. It aims to complete its mission in two parts: educating the children through workshops and training teachers to identify signs of abuse or confusion among individuals who are hard of hearing.
The six-hour workshop for children focuses on safety, boundaries and basic communication. The education of an average student in Zambia is not identical to that of a hard-of-hearing individual. Thus, this workshop uses role-plays, demonstrations, worksheets and interactive games to help children understand these topics. DKI also financially supported the purchase of laptops in 2024 for classrooms to help bridge educational gaps.
To ensure that educators are up to date, the DKI team communicates regularly with trained teachers. It does this by running brief sessions to verify that information translation is accurate and to gather feedback on the results of DKI’s programming. In early 2025, DKI staff observed that students ages five to eight were comprehending sign language at varying levels, indicating the program’s gradual progress.
DKI’s team values the feedback it receives from children, parents and educators alike. For instance, noting and adjusting the program to differentiate between “early warning signs” of abuse and symptoms of illness is important. DKI has taken a unique approach to hearing care in Zambia through adaptability and confidence-building.
Zambart: Building a Foundation for Research Advancements
Zambart, a research group that advances health care for all, has also begun piloting programs to study Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) and general hearing problems. The goal of the research study is to evaluate the effects and quality of life of individuals who are hard of hearing due to CSOM and other related hearing diseases. This would provide other organizations and the government with a clearer idea of the types of resources that would be helpful to these individuals.
As part of its initiative, Zambart begins by interviewing families in different communities in Zambia to understand their experiences with CSOM. Next, it will perform randomized trials of topical iodine treatment for ear discharge and analyze short- and long-term care. It will also pilot the introduction of a low-cost bone-conducting headset for 150 adults and children who experience hearing loss.
As a way to go hand in hand with DKI’s efforts, it will also conduct further studies and qualitative analyses to understand the lived experiences of people with hearing loss. The goal is to understand what enables or prevents them from feeling self-determined, empowered and resilient in their education and daily lives. The results of this study would be the implementation of tech-based learning for sign language.
Zambart accepts monetary donations to advance its research; however, the funds received go directly into its mission and action efforts. Though it does require significant money, training and time to achieve the necessary advancements in hearing care in Zambia, the Zambart team is actively working to address the root problems.
Focusing on Empowerment and Resilience
Overall, children and adults with hearing and ear illnesses have not received as much focus in Zambia as other diseases. However, when working with groups that focus on adaptability, resilience, community building and empowerment, these communities are given the chance to grow and learn. Though monetary donations go a long way toward advancing accessible clinics and medical professionals, providing the right tools and methods can further strengthen hearing care in Zambia.
– Simran Dev
Simran is based in Caledon, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
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