PRIORITIES FOR ACTION - EARLY IDENTIFICATION & TREATMENT
Related links in this section:
- Accessible Surgery
- Ending Hidden Hunger
- Safer Motherhood & Child Survival
- Early Identification & Treatment
- Immunisation
- Healthy Ageing
- Safe Water and Sanitation
- Poverty Alleviation
The best time to prevent disabling conditions is when symptoms first occur. Effective action can prevent a lifetime of disability.
75% of blindness and half the world’s hearing loss is avoidable. However lack of awareness and an acute shortage of staff trained to identify and respond magnifies these problems in the developing world.
An empowerment revolution is needed, putting information and technology at people's disposal, so that they can act for themselves. IMPACT helps people to understand and avoid risk factors and to organise appropriate treatment by developing informed links between health workers, teachers, parents and children.
Social development, education and language skills can be thwarted by poor vision or hearing, often caused simply by untreated infection, lack of glasses or a hearing aid. For example, a survey conducted in Sri Lanka concluded that as much as 50% of the hearing loss detected could be avoided, reversed or reduced with timely identification and appropriate treatment.
We are promoting this approach in many ways:
In Kenya, a mobile treatment unit is making dramatic inroads into the incidence of hearing loss. It also holds eye clinics and Mother and Baby clinics in remote villages to detect and treat problems before they have the chance to cause permanent damage.
In Thailand, the hearing of millions of schoolchildren is tested each year with a low-cost, user-friendly audiometer developed by IMPACT Thailand.
In Bangladesh, India, Kenya and The Philippines, children's sight, hearing and growth are being checked in the classroom and health education is built into the curriculum.
In many countries, Health Buses serve deprived communities promoting the powerful message that disability need not be a way of life and empowering people with knowledge to protect their health.
In Nepal, an IMPACT Primary Ear Care Centre has been established as the focus of national action against needless hearing loss.
In Bangladesh and India, ‘Mothers Clubs’ are used as a forum to teach women the telltale signs of potentially disabling conditions so that they can ensure their children get appropriate treatment quickly.
The Individual IMPACT
Nine-year old Swati’s teacher noticed that she had problems focussing on the blackboard. She was a difficult pupil, unable to concentrate and often absent from lessons. After screening, which revealed a squint, and an operation, Swati can now see clearly, is confident, happy and her academic performance has greatly improved.
£30 will screen 100 children to identify disabling disease
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Registered Charity No. 290992 Company Limited by Guarantee No. 1878297 registered in England and Wales
