by NORMA TSOPO
THE MINISTRY of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) will launch this year’s Manicaland provincial World Hearing Day commemorations on Thursday with a province-wide school screening programme aimed at identifying children with undiagnosed hearing loss, offering free hearing aids to those in need.
The initiative, scheduled for 23 July at Munyoro Secondary School, will target educational institutions across the province that enrol hearing-impaired learners.
It forms part of the global World Hearing Day campaign, observed annually on 3 March under the theme “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children”.
Early identification of hearing impairment is critical to a child’s educational development and social integration. This screening drive ensures that no child is left behind simply because their hearing loss went undetected.
By taking services directly to schools, the program removes the barriers of cost and access that too often prevent families from seeking help.
The programme is supported by Wizear and its partners, Audio Marks and Starkey, who will provide the audiological equipment and donate the hearing aids. All children found to require devices will receive them at no cost to their families.
The ministry has urged parents, guardians and educators to attend the launch and make use of the screening services. “We invite all stakeholders—teachers, parents and community leaders—to join us at Munyoro Secondary School as we work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to hear, learn and thrive,” MOHCC said in a statement.
Zimbabwe recognises Zimbabwean Sign Language as an official language, yet access to early diagnostic services remains uneven, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. The school-based approach aims to bridge that gap by embedding hearing care within the existing education system.
The launch is scheduled for Thursday, 23 July 2026, at Munyoro Secondary School which is one of very few schools with specialization on teaching hearing-impaired learners.
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