Call to action

HAVANT and Waterlooville hearing centres are calling on residents to donate their old hearing aids to help children in developing nations.

Specsavers Hearing Centres in Havant and Waterlooville are collecting donations for Sound Seekers, a charity dedicated to helping people, especially the young, who are deaf or hard of hearing in the world’s poorest communities.

It is hoped the donated devices, when reconditioned and reprogrammed, will help create a brighter future for those living with hearing loss in the developing world.

Clive Harrod, hearcare director at Specsavers Hearing Centres in Havant and Waterlooville, says: ‘Living in the UK, we are extremely lucky to have access to such robust hearing healthcare programmes. Oversees, charities like Sound Seekers are providing vital care to those who are not as fortunate. We’re calling on Havant and Waterlooville residents to help us support their efforts.

Stuart Riddick, of Sound Seekers, adds: ‘Without hearing and communicating, it's hard to go to school, thrive in a community, or hold down a job. Your hearing aids could enable a child to stay in school or a hardworking adult stay in a job. We are delighted to be working with Specsavers to improve the lives of people with hearing loss in Africa.’

The World Health Organisation estimated there are 360 million deaf people in the world, 80 per cent of whom live in the developing world[i].

Sound Seekers works in partnership with local organisations and institutions in developing nations to deliver sustainable and cost-effective projects. Their work aims to advance the understanding of deaf people’s needs and improve their access to health services, education, and social support, while enabling people to avoid or overcome the effects of hearing loss or deafness.

Specsavers is also supporting the Sound Seekers Hear in Malawi campaign to raise money for children and adults with hearing loss in Malawi. All donations will be matched by the UK government, enabling the charity to help twice as many people in need. More information is available at www.soundseekers. org.uk/hear-in-malawi/

To donate an old hearing aid or to book a free hearing test, visit Specsavers Hearing Centre Havant at 34 West Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1PG, call 023 9249 8296 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/havanthearing. Alternatively, visit Specsavers Hearing Centre Waterlooville at 310 London Road, Waterlooville, PO7 7DU, call 023 9225 9073 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/waterloovillehearing

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