Cochlear In Your Community

Bryan Adams, Malala Yousafzai and Other Celebrities Support Awareness of the World Report on Hearing

– Published by

Global celebrities Bryan Adams, Malala Yousafzai and others have joined a global groundswell of support to raise awareness for the World Health Organization's (WHO) first landmark World Report on Hearing, which calls on governments and societies worldwide to prioritize hearing health.

Share
Tweet
0 Shares

WHO’s first-ever World Report on Hearing

Launched on World Hearing Day in March, the WHO’s first-ever World Report on Hearing, Hearing care for all – screen, rehabilitate, communicate, contains guidance for governments to help curtail a worldwide rise in hearing loss.

Malala Yousafzai, the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and advocate for education and girls’ equality, provided a foreword for the WHO report by expressing her hopes for world leaders to work together to implement its recommendations. Malala has also experienced hearing loss and has a cochlear implant.

“With access to health care, rehabilitation and technology, people with disabling hearing loss can participate equally in education, employment and their communities,” Malala said.

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams sees this as an opportunity to promote hearing health so people can enjoy music because of the role it plays in people’s lives.

Bryan Adams stands on stage with his fist triumphantly in the air being one of the celebrities who support world report on hearing.

“I’d like to use this World Report on Hearing to pass on this message: ‘Music is everything, and so is your hearing’,” he wrote in a testimonial for the report. “Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the young, it affects all age groups. The way we enjoy our music is what counts; volume can damage your hearing forever. So, take care of your hearing with the level you listen to it,” said Adams.
New WHO figures reveal that globally, 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss. This includes around 60 million people who live with severe to complete hearing loss1 2.

So how can you get involved? Share the pledge!

The WHO World Hearing Forum Changemakers group has created a global pledge to help build a worldwide grassroots movement to persuade societies to prioritize hearing health. The WHO calls upon governments to include the best possible person-centered ear and hearing care in national health plans for universal coverage.

The World Report on Hearing calls for action now. Together, our voices can make a difference. Here’s how you can share the pledge:

  1. Write a personal message to show why you support societies and governments prioritizing hearing health to make sure the best possible hearing care is available for everybody. And, why governments should include person-centered ear and hearing care within national health plans.
  2. Upload the pledge with your personal message to your social media channels.
  3. Include the following hashtags with your post: #hearingcarepledge #WorldHearingDay, #HearingCare, #SafeListening.
  4. Add the words “share if you agree” at the end of your message.

Read more about the World Report on Hearing>> Here

  1. World Health Organization. World Report on Hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Available from: https://wwwwho.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-hearing Accessed 4 March 2021.
  2. World Health Assembly, 70. (‎2017)‎. Prevention of deafness and hearing loss. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/275682
Anna Martinez
Anna Martinez is the Associate Volunteer Engagement Manager and has worked for Cochlear since 2016. She is responsible for communication and onboarding with the Cochlear volunteer community. Anna is a Colorado native and enjoys being outside in the beautiful weather with her son.

Related Articles