World Hearing Day, established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the prevention of hearing loss and the need for accessible hearing care. The date was created in response to the increase in hearing problems in various parts of the world, compromising not only the quality of life of millions of people, but also their social inclusion and access to education and employment.

According to the WHO, more than 1.5 billion people in the world live with some degree of hearing loss, and this figure could reach 2.5 billion by 2050. The World Hearing Report (2021) warns that lack of access to hearing health services, stigma and misinformation aggravate the situation, affecting the most vulnerable populations in particular. The document also stresses that prevention and early intervention are key to reducing the impact of hearing loss.

In Mozambique, the challenges related to hearing health include a shortage of specialists, a lack of suitable equipment and widespread ignorance about the prevention and treatment of hearing loss. Many children are born with hearing loss without a timely diagnosis, which has a direct impact on their educational development and social inclusion.

The Association of Deaf Youth of Mozambique (AJOSMO), an organization that fights for the rights of deaf children and young people, points out that one of the main challenges faced by the community is the communication barrier. This affects access to education, health and employment. "The quality of education still leaves a lot to be desired. Few schools are prepared to receive deaf students and, even in those that do exist, there are difficulties in the teaching and learning process. Special School No. 1 has shown positive results, referring students to Josina Machel Secondary School, but the transition to higher education still presents many challenges," explains Monias Correia, AJOSMO's representative.

In the health sector, the association regrets the lack of qualified professionals in sign language. "There are hardly any specialists. In Maputo, for example, there is only one trained professional. We have already carried out training for health workers, but due to lack of practice and staff transfers, many have forgotten what they learned," says Correia.

Access to employment also remains a major obstacle. "Many institutions don't consider deaf people to be capable of carrying out any activity, when in fact, with proper training, they can do anything," says the sign language interpreter, who also warns that so far, there are no specific policies for the inclusion of young deaf people in the job market.

Even so, the association highlights the efforts of some private entities to include deaf people in the job market, such as a port company that has hired two young deaf people who stand out in the market for their dedication and competence.

On this World Hearing Day, AJOSMO leaves a message of strength and resistance: "Our voice is visible, our language is rich and our identity is strong. Let's keep fighting, even in the face of so many challenges."

The need to guarantee universal access to information, health and employment for the deaf community remains urgent. To ensure that no one is left behind, it is essential to implement inclusive policies that guarantee equal rights for all people, regardless of their hearing condition. (MISA)