The World Health Organization (WHO) marks World Hearing Day on 3rd March of each year to raise awareness about hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care. World Hearing Day 2023 will be celebrated under the theme “Ear and hearing care for all” where the importance of integrating ear and hearing care within primary care as an essential component of universal health coverage will be highlighted globally as well as in Sri Lanka through various events. 

To achieve this objective, ENT specialists together with Vision Care Hearing Solutions have organised a special awareness program titled “Ear and Hearing Care for All”. These programmes will be carried out on 3rd March at five main Vision Care branches around Sri Lanka – Mount Lavinia, Maharagama, 
Galle, Negombo, and Kurunegala. 

The awareness programme will aim to educate and inform primary healthcare workers such as midwives, General Practitioners (GPs), nurses, and even teachers and Grama Sevakas, as well as the general public about the importance of identifying ear and hearing care issues. The goal of these events is to provide the participants, especially the primary healthcare workers, with necessary education to properly identify individuals with hearing loss or those at risk of hearing loss, whereby they can be referred to the relevant medical professional for further examination and treatment, if necessary. Several leading ENT specialists in Sri Lanka including Dr Chandra Jayasuriya, a renowned name in the field, will be conducting the awareness sessions as well as providing free consultations. 

Additionally, free hearing checkups will be provided Islandwide to the general public through all Vision Care outlets on World Hearing Day on the 3rd March. Those interested are advised to make prior appointments by contacting the nearest Vision Care branch.