Primary-School Hearing Screening Project in Tonga

This significant project was developed and is being implemented by the Rotary Club of Hampton, District 9815.

The concept was confirmed during discussions between the club’s Chairman for International Service, Peter Read and officials from the Tonga Ministry of Health and community members during late 2019. The objective is to provide capacity-building training on ear health screening and education, for community nurses with support from staff from the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic (ENT) at Vaiola Hospital Nuku’alofa.

The hearing screening is being undertaken for Primary students (from grade 1 and 2 classes) in Tongatapu (the main island in Tonga) schools. Its aim is to Identify any hearing problems which may require further attention by specialist medical personnel.  The project is expected to result in significant benefits to the screened children’s educational and social development. This is being achieved through:

• Focused training of nursing staff from Vaiola hospital supported by provision of specialist equipment, to facilitate broader and more regular subsequent screening to support identification of hearing deficiencies and enable proactive responses.
• Conducting hearing screening of Year 1 and 2 primary students in 62 schools in Tongatapu within the school environment, identifying and documenting the status   of any hearing impediments.
• Educating and raising awareness within the community of the impact of hearing problems, maintaining good ear health, and avoiding practices which result in hearing problems. Education materials are being distributed and programs conducted through face-to-face meetings, print, broadcast and social media.

The project, being undertaken in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa was approved by The Rotary Foundation and commenced in May 2023 after significant delays and lockdowns in Tonga due to the Corona Virus pandemic and disruption caused by major volcanic activity which prevented travel and development. It is now being implemented and is expected to be completed later in 2025.

During World Hearing Week (2024), the project’s community education component, facilitated presentations over radio and TV, by some of the staff from the ENT clinic who are working with our team.  This material conveys a message on ear health - it is in Tongan and target is the local community.  It was broadcast initially on World Hearing Day and repeated on TV in following weeks. WATCH THE PRESENTATION HERE.

A video has been prepared showing details of the progress and status to date.  This video shows the community nursing staff being trained through both theoretical, clinical and hands-on training including use of the specialised audiology equipment, WATCH HERE.

The training team, including Audiologists from Australia, was supported and assisted by professional staff from the Ministry of Health Tonga. Over 40 nurses were trained and it is anticipated that approximately 3000 students will be screened. 

The project is managed in the field by a Tongan based Audiologist, managed by the Australian based Project Manager through field visits and on-line contact.  Progress is closely monitored and the outcome progressively reported.

Teachers, students, parents and the public are presented with educational material informing them of the importance of ear health. 

Where results of the screening identify hearing problems, the student is referred to the ENT clinic at the National Vaiola Hospital for further investigation and intervention as necessary.

Funding for the project was raised by Rotary clubs in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Germany, Tonga, private donors and major support from The Rotary Foundation. Funding which also covered purchase of sets of audiology testing equipment and computers to document the screening results which will be used, after the project, to support teams from the District Health Centres and the ENT clinic for follow-up and to undertake screening of children at their schools under subsequent programs. The project is expected to form part of a regular hearing screening program for Tonga which does not currently have this service under a national program.

Due to the demonstrated need for similar activities in other Pacific countries, it is proposed that the project be replicated.

The community nursing staff and staff from the Vaiola hospital’s Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic, are also shown conducting screening in the school environment. The project scope and details are explained and a sample of a short video developed by the winning school to a competition designed to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the ear health/caring message as part of the community education activities.

For further information please contact Peter Read, Chair International Service
Phone :+61 417779976 - Email: peterlread@bigpond.com