Health Ministry and Vidchui NGO cooperate to rehabilitate military personnel with ear injuries and prevent hearing loss: presentation of campaign for hearing “Hear? Plus. Plus”

During the hostilities, many soldiers suffer ear injuries and trauma. The issues of rehabilitation after such injuries and prevention of hearing loss during the war were discussed at Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform by Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine, Daria Herasymchuk, Director of “Vidchuy” NGO and Tetiana Lomakina, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Barrier-Free Environment.

“Due to the overload, the high number of decibels from constant explosions, injuries to the upper part of the body, in particular head and maxillofacial trauma, there is a large number of injuries to the hearing organs. Doctors save lives, but it is not always possible to save hearing. The next stage is a hearing prosthesis, and then rehabilitation. We are signing a memorandum with “Vidchui” NGO that will allow us, after (the wounded receive) hearing prosthesis, to attract activists from the organization with 10 years of experience in rehabilitation of those in need of hearing restoration. The activists will help Ukrainian people to restore the ability to hear, which was lost due to trauma,” — Viktor Liashko said.

“Now, more than ever, there is a great opportunity to finally build the barrier-free society we all aspire to. In addition to rehabilitating soldiers who have lost their hearing, it is important for us to do everything so that our servicemen don’t experience hearing loss at all. So we analyzed the global market and found very good solutions — these are sound filtering ear plugs. This is personal protective equipment that helps you hear everything around, but filters out the sound during an explosion, which will help soldiers not to lose their hearing. We really want our military to return to a peaceful life filled with sounds, and for them to answer the question “Do you hear?” with a confident “Plus. Plus” (which means “very well”). We have already purchased 1,150 sound filtering ear plugs and will continue to do so,” — Daria Herasymchuk said.

“Not only do we have to build an efficient, evidence-based rehabilitation system, but also make sure that people with any hearing impairment can recover, return and be active, independent, autonomous members of the community. The foundations, which were laid several years ago, today help the best hospitals of Ukraine to implement modern evidence-based rehabilitation practices. Our doctors study abroad, instructors come who show how to properly set up rehabilitation, which will allow for a very quick recovery. The people who used to recover in 6 months, today recover in 1.5 months, and our defenders want to return and continue the fight after their recovery,” — Tetiana Lomakina said.

According to Daria Herasymchuk, to order sound filtering ear plugs, one needs to file a request on the website https://vidchui.org or in social networks of the NGO, adding a letter from the commander of the military unit. A request for rehabilitation after receiving hearing prosthesis can be made by phone, on the website or social networks of “Vidchui” NGO. In addition, the website accepts financial help: UAH 1 million is the price for 1,000 sound filtering earplugs for the military.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news