Speech by H.E. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Hon'ble Foreign Adviser at the Inaugural session of symposium on Deafness
at BCPS, Mohakhali, Dhaka on 28 May 2008

Mr. President, Prof. M. Alauddin (President Bangladesh ENT Society)
Dr. Bulantrisna Djelantik (President, Society of Sound Hearing),
Dr. A. K. Agarwal (Secretary General, Society of Sound Hearing),
Dignitaries,
ENT specialists and Ladies and Gentlemen,

- I deem it a privilege for me to be present here today at this program. This relates to such an issue-"Deafness" which requires our attention and close concern.

- Deafness is a major public health problem in Bangladesh. It is often neglected like other chronic diseases, as it does not appear to be life-threatening and as an acute health problem. Financial constraints, ignorance and lack of awareness attribute to the magnitude of the problem.

- Community participation and mass awareness program may be introduced to address the problem properly. Apart from the services provided by the Medical College Hospitals and District Hospitals/infirmaries, vast rural community should be brought under the coverage of Community Health Care. Ear care service can be delivered to them by a consolidated action through primary health care.

Distinguished guests,

-WHO estimates that there are 255 million people world wide with hearing impairment. Although it is not a death-causing disease, the implication of hearing impairment in the individual, family and community is an issue of serious concern. The far reaching implications of hearing loss, both in respect of development of communication skills, as well as in social, economic and quality of life terms, warrants an urgent need to highlight the magnitude and severity of the problem.

- A consultative meeting in Bangkok was held in 2003, which resulted in a recommendation to the formation of a regional initiative for the prevention and alleviation of hearing impairment in South East Asia, called South East Asia Forum for sound hearing and its activity "SOUND HEARING 2030". This forum has been launched at its first General Body meeting-- now named as "Society For Sound Hearing". Its "vision" is to improve health and well-being of people of South East Asia through better hearing. Its "mission" is to eliminate avoidable hearing impairment by the year 2030 through development of sustainable ear and hearing care systems.

-I appreciate the activities of the society of Sound Hearing and wish them all success. I would also like to extend support to the welfare programmes of Bangladesh ENT society. I thank the organizers for inviting me in this symposium.