NAHOH – Nepal Association of the Hard of Hearing
Sue and Lew and the team at HearingNEPAL Prorgam will measure their success in Nepal by the degree of sustainability of the services remaining in Nepal. Our indispensable friends and supporters in NAFA concur. What better start than helping an existing organization, established and motivated by Nepali?
The Nepal Association of the Hard of Hearing is an organization working for the welfare of people who are hard of hearing. NAHOH was established in 1996, with the joint efforts and team spirit of Nepalese Hard of Hearing persons, with the objective of promoting and developing the hard of hearing community, in a systematic way. This association has been registered at the Kathmandu District Administration Office and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council. Managed by people who are hard of hearing, this association has set its objectives as working for the welfare of the hard of hearing people, “promoting the spirit of affection, unity and mutual co-operation among the hard of hearing persons, preserving their rights, promoting awareness of the hearing community by motivating them, reducing their feelings of hatred and neglecting by others and conducting programs with the purpose of fulfilling the above mentioned objectives.”
NAFA supports NAHOH through funding of their new, more prominent, premises – until they are fully self-supporting.
HearingNEPAL Program (with NAFA and supporter assistance) have powered and equipped their site, such that it is now independent of frequent “load shedding” power surges and spikes – crucial for the longevity of expensive equipment. We also pay Keshab’s modest wage and have trained and equipped him to fit hearing aids, many of which are supplied from Australia.
One of NAHOH’s key roles is its program of “Ear Camps” – providing primary ear care to rural villages and schools for children with hearing loss. Keshab, their primary ear care worker also joined HearingNEPAL Program’s trips, ensuring continuity of care for people in remote areas.
This gallery demonstrates Keshab at work running ear camps. His roles include education for healthy ears, assessment of ear health, primary ear care such as wax removal, referral for appropriate medical treatment as required, hearing assessments and now fitting of donated hearing aids.