Programa para la Prevención del Déficit Auditivo

The only programme to provide ear health services to the poorest people of Bolivia. 

This prevention of deafness programme operates from Trinidad, where it provides medical and social services to the very poor rural and urban population of around 407,000 in an area of 200,000 km².

The project offers medical services which includes primary health consultations, child vaccinations, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services (including audiology).

Our partner Foundation Totaí is developing a community health programme, which covers remote outlying populations of the region.

An estimated 64% of people in Bolivia live below the poverty line.  In rural areas, 84% of the population relies on agriculture to meet basic needs.  However, deforestation, desertification, industrial pollution and soil erosion are cutting into the small farmers' profits, diminishing their ability to earn a living.

Women and indigenous groups are at a distinct disadvantage in the labour market with women earning a wage 35% lower than men, and indigenous labourers receiving just over half of their mainstream counterparts’ salaries.

In this context, disabilities like deafness can devastate children and families. In fact, deafness and hearing impairments affect many Bolivians. In the last 50 years, Bolivia’s total population has tripled in size. This increase has been accompanied by an intense urbanization process.

Between 1998 and 2000, a huge measles outbreak spread across the country, the under 5 year age group was the most affected. In 2000, rubella outbreaks behaved in a similar epidemiological manner to the measles outbreak.