Hearing impairment seemed to me of less public health importance till I had the opportunity of working with the team from Starkey Hearing Foundation for a few days during their outreaches in Gulu and Kampala districts this March 2012. Besides meeting some “deaf” kids from deaf school at my local church, I had just met a few of the kind elsewhere!
Definitely, it was really exciting that I was to take part in this new experience of fixing hearing aids and getting to know how the whole system works. In fact, on that Friday 9th, I was amazed seeing such a big number of people scattered around the URA parking lot waiting to be fixed. It was a mix of age groups ranging from as young as one year to elderly people. My mind could not help wondering if there has been any researches conducted to establish the magnitude of this problem in Uganda. Beyond my imagination of such an awesome topic for my postgraduate research, I really felt the enthusiasm of impacting these people’s lives. You really want to think for a moment how beautiful it is for one that has never heard but watched people’s lips move up and down, seen people dancing to what he or she cannot hear… at last having the hope and ability to enjoy life to the fullest!
Well, it turned out a great experience helping out at the counseling department (this is where the client gets to learn how to clean, maintain, properly use, fix new batteries and other issues of interest concerning the hearing devices) and latter at the department that did the real fixing of the device. While interacting with John, one of the experts from the Starkey Hearing Foundation, I was informed that not all kids that are in “deaf” school or even other people we see “deaf” are really deaf. Some people’s impairment is not that serious to render them completely deaf! In fact, there were some kids from “deaf” school that we fixed with the weakest hearing devices and were able to hear clearly- imagine they have been regarded as complete “deaf” and yet they are not. Such situations are still prevailing in Uganda and most likely other developing countries due to the inexistence or low coverage of such services to assist people with hearing problems. Poverty as manifested by low household incomes and inadequate government/private sector investments in healthcare services is still a big deal.
One of my most humbling moments was while in the counseling department on my first day of the outreach. Meeting and interacting with people I “didn’t know” seemed a hectic process especially that one had to talk almost the same words over again. I however enjoyed the excitement I saw on people’s faces when they felt confident and comfortable that they would ably use the hearing devices and how amazing it was that they would now hear clearer or completely perfect. One lady who seemed overwhelmed by my great service and by the newly acquired device happened to be through with the counseling session and ready to leave for home. Out of curiosity, I asked where she stayed! The name of the district (Masaka-my home district too) was a very familiar one. So I asked her where exactly she stays in Masaka and to my surprise, it was a 5 minute walk from my parents’ house. She drove the point home when I learnt from her that she attends to the same local church with my mum and knew her to the dot! While she bid farewell, she told me that in two days’ time, she would be telling my mum what an amazing son she has!
There has not been a moment when I stop asking myself what service matters to me. But there are always moments when I feel that it’s all about the satisfaction that comes when you see people love and appreciate what you do. But I do not fall for this feeling completely; because I know of moments, places and people where good service is never appreciated. I am starting to believe that service is what you enjoy doing, and that has a positive impact on people’s lives (regardless if they recognize that or not). It soon bears fruit in your life too, that is what we usually see inform of remuneration, promotions, friendships, networks, love, reputation…
I warmly appreciate and thank all those involved in providing good service to people around them. May your work bear good fruit.
