A collaborative project between the University of Pretoria and partners including the Kenya Ear Foundation, Umea University Hospital in Sweden and GeoAxon has resulted in the establishment of the first tele-audiology clinics in Africa. The first was recently initiated in South Africa and the second and third was initiated at hospitals in Kenya.

The South African contingency at this historic event consisted of personnel from the Department of Communication Pathology, Prof De Wet Swanepoel and Ms Talita van der Spuy, and Dr Dirk Koekemoer from GeoAxon. The Swedish counterparts included Prof Claude Laurent & Ms Lisbeth Olsson. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Kenya Ear Foundation, including Dr Manuel D’Cruz and Mr Joseph Ayieko.

The pilot phase was initiated and launched in Kenya by the team of professionals during the week of 23 to 28 May 2010 at the Consolata Hospital at Mathari and the St. Clare Hospital in Kaplong, Kenya. Dignitaries were invited and demonstrations were held of asynchronous and synchronous audiometry and video-otoscopy conducted on-site.

This programme aims to serve as a model for similar services to be extended to the underserved throughout Africa.

Tele-Audiology Team (LEFT TO RIGHT: Dr Dirk Koekemoer, Mr Joseph Ayieko, Prof Claude Laurent, Prof De Wet Swanepoel, Ms Lisbeth Olsson, Ms Talita van der Spuy)



Opening of Clinic At Kaplong


Video-otoscopy training


Patient demonstration of automated asynchronous audiometry