EFHOH celebrates the successful approval of the WHO resolution on primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments, including hearing and vision loss, across the life course at the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board.

This resolution will now advance to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), representing a significant step toward integrating hearing access and lifelong support as essential pillars of global health priorities. It reinforces the need for comprehensive hearing care to be part of universal health coverage (UHC) and primary healthcare strategies.

Key areas of action regarding hearing loss include:

• Strengthening early detection and prevention of hearing loss;
• Expanding access to assistive technologies such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and eyeglasses;
• Improving rehabilitation services and inclusive communication, including captioning;
• Enhancing healthcare system capacity and sustainable financing for long-term sensory care;
• Promoting global cooperation to reduce the impact of sensory disabilities and ensure equal access to care.

EFHOH strongly supports this initiative and urges policymakers and healthcare systems to implement measures that guarantee lifelong hearing access and support. Addressing hearing care must be a public health priority to ensure that people of all ages can benefit from equal opportunities and fully participate in society.

For more details, the full resolution is available here: WHO EB156 Resolution