United Nations Technology Bank , Medtronic Labs, and Ministry of Health Bhutan
Project partner
Hear, Listen
and Speak
Partnership
since 2023
Challenge
Bhutan, located in South Asia, is a constitutional monarchy bordered by India to the south and Tibet (China) to the north. It is one of the lowest-income countries in the world, with a relatively small population of around 700,000 people. Bhutan is unique in that it is the only country in the world to measure its national development based on the Gross National Happiness Index, where health is a key indicator of well-being.
In line with the WHO resolution that all states should ensure hearing care, the Bhutanese government has decided to ensure hearing health for its population. However, the country currently lacks the expertise, trained professionals, and appropriate technology needed to care for people with hearing loss.
How we help
The project is implemented nationwide to raise awareness of hearing health, build local expertise, and establish sustainable and urgently needed services for children that have never before existed in Bhutan. The goal is to establish a sustainable ear and hearing care system for all children up to the age of 14, ensuring access both now and in the future. This will be achieved through technology, equipment, professional training, family education, outreach programs, and the development of new services.
- Hearing screenings and hearing aid provision for the entire child population of Bhutan
- Establishing a nationwide infrastructure for newborn and child screenings, diagnostics, and hearing aid fitting
- Strengthening audiological expertise through training and equipping local professionals
- Integrating hearing care into the national health system within three years
Our Partner
The project is led by a consortium made up of the UN Technology Bank and Medtronic Labs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Bhutan and MED-EL. The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), UNICEF, and the Ministry of Education act as advisors to the consortium.