Most people believe that once someone is born and considered deaf, the condition is permanent and the person will never hear.
But it's not always so as nearly everyone classified as deaf can be made to hear.
This was confirmed in Machakos County on Wednesday when residents led by their Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua witnessed people considered deaf in the county have their hearing abilities restored.
A 7-year-old girl Fridah Nduku, who was considered deaf was made to hear after she got hearing aids installed on her ears by Starkey Hearing Technologies professionals, a team which has committed itself to provide free hearing checks and aids in Africa.
"It was quite eye-opening to learn that nearly every one classified as deaf can be made to hear. Children who have never heard a song or a story can now hear – wow!," Mutua posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.
Mutua said his administration will start partnering with such organizations to solve hearing problems in the county.
"We discussed how we can partner and I committed that a hearing test will be part of the initial checkup (triage) process wherever anyone – from child to adult visits a Machakos county health facility," Mutua said.
"My government will also start a process to partner with Starkey and other similar organizations to help our people. I am interested in solving hearing problems of my people, from infancy," he added.
The group led by Starkey Hearing Technologies Founder Bill Tani Austin provided the fitting of free hearing aids to over 300 residents at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
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