A hearing screening project for class 1 and 2 students on Tongatapu is being carried out by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hampton from Australia and Rotary Club Nuku‘alofa.

NCD and Reproductive Health divisions joined training last week conducted by two visiting audiologists, Tim Klar and Chris Waterworth (from Australia) with Dr Sepi Lopati (ENT surgeon) and Phillip Luey (audiologist) from the ENT clinic, Vaiola Hospital.

The team went out to GPS Hofoa (Gvernment Primary School) and GPS Longolongo last week. Another group of nurses are being trained this week and will visit GPS Hala-‘o-vave and GPS Popua on 12 May.

During the year the trained nurses will be going out to all schools across Tongatapu to test the hearing of class 1 and 2 students, stated the Ministry of Health today.

Assistance

Peter Read the Director of International Service from Hampton Rotary Club, Australia [2] is leading the national program for children with support of Rotary.

The Australian High Commission stated today AUD60,000 worth of audiology screening equipment has been provided to the Ministry of Health.

This project is training nurses how to screen the hearing of children.

Peter  was an engineer with the World Bank reconstruction of schools' project following Tropical Cyclone Gita and saw the need for a hearing screening program in schools.

“With perseverance and patience during COVID, Peter designed the program, fundraised and is now back in Tonga to implement with the MOH,” stated the Australian High Commission today.