My experience providing ear care in underserviced places in the world

My experience providing ear care in underserviced places in the world
John Rutka

Ear disease still remains a major cause for morbidity (disability adjusted life years or DALY’s) and even mortality in the third and developing world. The challenges
faced by teams of physicians and surgeons who provide ear care are universal where poverty, lack of primary medical care and illiteracy intersect. My experience providing ear care in Southeast Asia and Northern Ontario over the past 30 years is presented. While it is heartening to see that significant progress has been been made in some countries where fundamental changes in affluence have occurred many obstacles still remain to be overcome. The work of the Rural Thai ENT Foundation and Earaid Nepal in delivering ear care to rural populations is compared and contrasted.