Nairobi Training

Once again, the team split our efforts in order to maximize the impact of our work. While Bill Austin and team were fitting patients in Madagascar, Tani Austin took a team to Kenya for additional trainings and Phase 1, 2 and 3 missions. Community-Based Hearing HealthCare coordinators from six countries joined us in Nairobi for three days of training and hearing missions, all aiming to increase their expertise in our “think global, act local” approach to Community-Based Hearing HealthCare.

Our dedicated East African Team once again led the charge for the trainings and hearing missions, helping to coordinate with our partners in Nairobi. Also joining the team were Michelle Christie and Jack Adams of No Limits and Anne Mugambi of the National Fund for Disabled Kenya. Kenya program advisor Professor Isaac Macharia and Operation Ear Drop Kenya’s Serah Ndegwa helped ensure success along the way. 

While the team met many special patients during our time in Nairobi, 7-year-old Lucy stole the show during the Phase 2 fittings. As soon as she was fit, Lucy immediately gave her mother a big, wet kiss in celebration. After many minutes of laughter and smiles, we asked Lucy’s mother what hearing would do for her child. She replied, “First thing tomorrow, she’s going to school!” Lucy had previously been unable to enroll at her local school due to her hearing loss. With hearing, Lucy will be able to begin her education and pursue her full potential in life.

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Special Thanks

No Limits: Michelle Christie, Jack Adams; AuD Clinical Professors, Utah State University: Heather Jensen, Jeff Larsen; Long Island AuD Consortium: Ianthe Dunn-Murad; Center for Advanced Hindsight, Duke University: Mariel Beasley, Jamie Foehl; AuD Giants Hearing Centre: Evah Mwangi, Jayshree Chohan; National Fund for Disabled Kenya: Anne Mugambi; EARC: Bakari Yeri, Paul Awora, Pauline Njogu, David Mbegeli, Madam Zuhura; Rodgers Cheruiyout; Professor Isaac Macharia; Operation Ear Drop Kenya: Serah Ndegwa