© CBM/Hayduk

This BMZ-funded project aims to address ear diseases and hearing loss for over 112,000 Cameroonians

CBM, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) launched a targeted service project worth €733,333 to address ear diseases and hearing loss in the Central, Littoral and North-West regions, including conflict-affected zones of Cameroon. This marks a historic step towards providing accessible ear and hearing care to millions.

Millions of people in Cameroon live with hearing loss, yet ear and hearing care services remain out of reach for most. In Cameroon, a child with earache or chronic ear disease may never consult a specialist. A farmer losing his hearing due to untreated infections, exposure to noise or head trauma could face loss of livelihood and income. A mother unable to afford hearing screening might remain unaware that her toddler’s speech delay is caused by preventable or treatable hearing loss. These represent the silent struggles of Cameroonians living with hearing impairment—a problem exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and a severe shortage of trained specialists and technicians, as well as lack of access to affordable hearing aids.

Repha is the clinical officer and audiologist at the CBC Hospital, a CBM partner hospital in Cameroon. Here, Repha is examining a patient's ear. © CBM

Now, a coalition of global partners is stepping in. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Christian Blind Mission (CBM), and Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) have launched a targeted project worth €733,333 to transform ear and hearing healthcare in three regions of Cameroon.

The “Strengthening Ear and Hearing Health Care capacities in Cameroon” project will be implemented in the Northwest, Central, and Littoral regions.

By 2028, the project aims to directly reach 112,500 people—half of whom are women, 15% persons with disabilities, and 41% are children—with life-changing screenings, diagnosis, treatments, assistive hearing devices and advocacy interventions. Moreover, more than one million people will be reached through awareness campaigns; 22 ear and hearing care  (EHC) Clinical Officers will be trained in Primary EHC as Trainers of Trainers for 100 community health workers; and 14  nurses will be trained and equipped as Audiology Technicians at the three reference centres in North-West, Central and Littoral regions.

Why this project matters

Living with hearing loss is a barrier to education, employment, and full participation in society. 80% of people with hearing impairments live in low- and middle-income countries, where services are scarce.

 

In Cameroon’s conflict-ridden Northwest, where armed violence has crippled healthcare systems, 75% of people do not even know hearing services exist. Meanwhile, preventable causes like meningitis and chronic ear infections account for 52-62% of hearing loss cases, yet access to treatment remains limited.

 

The plan: training, tech, and policy 

The initiative’s backbone is its three-pronged approach: 

1.      Training 116 specialists, including audiology technicians and Ear and Hearing Care Clinical Officers, to address a critical shortage: only 12 hearing officers currently serve 31 government facilities.

2.      Expanding ear and hearing care access – 3 new facilities will be equipped to offer specialised ear and hearing care services and strengthen the capacity of the existing 31 facilities. Screening tools are key to early detection and intervention since 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable.

3.      Developing a National Hearing Health Plan – For the first time, Cameroon will draft a national strategy to guide investments in ear and hearing care.

Notably, the project integrates sign language training with a new Ear and Hearing Care sign language module for healthcare staff, a first in a country where deaf patients struggle to communicate with doctors and healthcare workers.

Twenty-three district hospitals and 24 ear nose and throat (ENT) clinics in the targeted areas will be improved to offer accessible primary, secondary, and tertiary ear and hearing care services. Additionally, the University of Yaoundé is receiving support to update and implement its training curriculum for EHC physicians, ensuring a skilled workforce to meet the growing needs of ear and hearing health in these communities.

A proven partnership for change

© CBM

CBM and CBCHS are no strangers to Cameroon’s challenges. Since 1982, the partnership has delivered disability-inclusive healthcare amid instability, from high-quality care in ophthalmology, physiotherapy, and inclusive education to mental health support. With the support of the Cameroonian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs and key stakeholders, this project ensures a sustainable, nationwide impact.

During the commemoration of World Hearing Day, the director of CBCHS, Samuel Ngum, emphasised the commitment to stronger hearing care systems that impact communities.

“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that communities get quality care,” said Ngum.

The CBM Country Director for Cameroon, Julius Fon, said the government’s commitment to this pilot project marks a shift in attitudes towards ear and hearing care in Cameroon.

“Before today, talking about ear and hearing care was difficult. CBM is counting on stakeholders’ support for the project’s success, especially given its expansion to the public and private sectors.”

To kick off activities, 22 ear and hearing care clinical officers were trained in a 3-day training trainer’s workshop, 3-5 March 2025, that commenced with the commemoration of World Hearing Day on 3rd March.

 

The bigger picture

With 430 million people worldwide, who live with hearing disability, hard of hearing and deaf, Cameroon’s initiative could set a precedent for low-resource nations. The appeal is clear for donors: every euro contributes to measurable impact, from training programmes to policy shifts.

By 2028, this initiative will have provided more people in Cameroon with hearing services than ever before, strengthened healthcare infrastructure, and laid the groundwork for a long-term national strategy.

 

Become a partner

Collaborate with CBM to leverage our three decades of experience, extensive regional networks, and specialised knowledge in ear and hearing care. We invite you to partner with us to launch comparable projects in other affected regions or countries, utilising our established methodologies and insights in ear and hearing care. 

Become a partner
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