Good news abounds in India at a local charity event for ear and hearing health. A program with heart made a huge difference in the lives of many.
The Event for Ear and Hearing Health
Dr. Obangjungla, the chief medical officer of Longleng, India, hosted the ear and hearing health clinics on Aug. 24-26. Longleng is located in the 10th district of Nagaland, one of the most eastern states in the country. The current population is 50,593, as of the 2011 census. The area comprises 38 villages but is rural and mountainous in topography, making it at times challenging to traverse.
Dr. Obangjungla and her husband Benjung Aier sponsored the event to counteract the current troubling trends of avoidable hearing impairment in India. About 6.3% of the population suffers from significant auditory loss. Dr. Obangjungla and her office decided to host the hearing camp at the Longleng district headquarters, and the event itself was open to all members of the public.
People could have their hearing tested during the charity event. Ear nose and throat specialists were available on-site if anyone had specific issues they came to the clinic to resolve. Later in September, Dr. Obangjungla will return with hearing aids for patients who found they needed them after testing.
The Work of Dr. Obangjungla
In her extensive work, Dr. Obangjungla has overseen many medical clinics and provided much aid. She saw a patient in her thirties during one health camp who had not heard for over 15 years. Once Dr. Obangjungla examined her, she discovered that wax was blocking the woman’s ears. After the wax was removed, the patient could hear again.
Dr. Obangjungla believes there is much to be done to improve the basic hearing health of all people. For those with auditory impairment, Dr. Obangjungla posits more must be done because the inability to hear makes it particularly difficult for people in India. She says they face astigmatism and lose chances to go to school as children and become employed as adults.
Before getting to the point of significant auditory loss, people can do simple things to take care of their ears every day, such as investing in a pair of earplugs or ear-muffs or learning how to conduct a simple hearing test.
To pursue her dream to help Indians have better hearing, Dr. Obangjungla will next provide charity screening camps at nearby locations like Tamlu Community Health Center, Sakshi Public Health Center and Yachem Community Health Center. These events will continue to promote more opportunities for people to get their hearing tested and avoid unnecessary hearing loss, reversing this preventable trend in India.
A Bright Future
With the continued work of individuals like Dr. Obangjungla, more people will have access to health clinics to improve their ear and hearing health. Issues like having unnecessary auditory loss will hopefully, in time, become a thing of the past.