Improving access to hearing care services and professionals in Africa through task sharing: The Malawian experience

Abstract

A task sharing model to improve access to audiology and ENT services is presented that has been successfully introduced in Mala­wi to overcome the shortage of specialist care. The Malawian experience also clearly demonstrates that with appropriate training, endoscopic myringoplasty can be successfully performed by mid-level health workers. Based on the Malawian experience, we recommend that developing countries with skills shortages should embrace task sharing with mid-level health workers assuming roles traditionally reserved for medical doctors, audiologists and otolaryngologists, including endoscopic myringoplasties, to im­prove access to hearing care services.