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Community QAV in the Community

Sharing Stories

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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

sharing stories.

A Person-Centred Approach to tackling the impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
“This story is not just about statistics; it’s about the people whose lives have been profoundly changed.”

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a rarely-talked-about group of diseases that can cause intense pain, disabling side-effects, and social stigma and discrimination. They are treatable and preventable, yet continue to affect over one billion of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people. CBM is raising awareness by sharing the stories of those most affected. Using their narrative, in their own words, these individuals show what is possible when NTD programmes consider the whole person, and all their needs, together.

CBM’s NTD programmes deliver a person-centred approach, tackling the many problems and challenges that arise for an individual with an NTD – from physical and mental health needs, to lack of employment opportunities, poor mobility and stigma from their family and community.

And the results are tangible. Project participants are sharing their experiences – using videos and vlogs to tell it in their own words – talking about how their lives have changed for the better, having been involved in our programmes.

The aim is to make sure their voices are heard – within their communities, by their local decision-makers, by funders and on an international level. Innovative story-mapping technology is being developed to amplify their voices and to learn from their experiences.

CBM’s CiSKuLA Project in Northern Nigeria has been ambitious working with communities at risk of, ad affected by Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). Together with their local partner HANDS, the project offers a multifaceted approach to breaking the NTD–Disability–Poverty Cycle.

“At the heart of the project is the understanding that true transformation comes from addressing the multidimensional needs of those affected by NTDs and disabilities. This project has brought together healthcare, economic empowerment, mental health care, and inclusive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services in an unprecedented way.” Joseph Ameh, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, HANDS, Nigeria.

By offering surgical and limb-care, livelihood support, hygiene training and mental health support, CBM’s inclusive approach goes beyond a purely medical approach, to ensure that nobody is left behind.

“The project is not only healing bodies but also restoring hope and self-worth to individuals, families, and entire communities.” Joseph continues.

People with NTDs often face rejection, stigma and discrimination. CBM have found that increasing the visibility of people with disabilities is essential to undermining negative stereotyping, fear and shame. They proactively support people with NTDs to be active, productive members of the community, so that they are recognised as people with dreams and hopes for their future like anyone else. Sharing their stories is a key part of this.

The CiSKuLA project is demonstrating the benefits of working holistically and taking a person-centred approach, showing what is possible when programmes consider the person as a whole. And now they want to share those stories far and wide.

QAV Ltd have an ongoing partnership with CBM, the Global Disability Inclusion Charity, through support of their Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programme, tackling the causes, symptoms and stigma of NTDs in some of the world’s poorest communities. Because together we can break the NTD – Disability – Poverty Cycle.

Amina’s Story: CiSKuLA: The Holistic Approach

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Community

A story of renewed hope

Anas seating on a chair
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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

Anas seating on a chair

A story of renewed hope .

Anas lived in Jigawa State, Nigeria. When he was younger, he was infected by lymphatic filariasis (LF) – commonly known as elephantiasis.

Anas lived in Jigawa State, Nigeria. When he was younger, he was infected by lymphatic filariasis (LF) – commonly known as elephantiasis.

Lymphatic filariasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) transmitted by mosquitoes, impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing severe pain, severe disability and social stigma. It is estimated that over 120 million people are affected by lymphatic filariasis worldwide.

Anas was unfortunately among the many in his community who have consistently missed out on the LF MDA (Lymphatic Filariasis Mass Administration of Medicines) programmes over the years, making him vulnerable to infection. As he grew older, he started to develop bilateral lymphoedema, severe swelling, in his legs.

He began to experience severe pain, as well as difficulty walking and weeping wounds on his legs. But luckily, he was enrolled in CBM’s CiSKuLA programme, which takes a comprehensive and inclusive approach to tackling the causes, symptoms and stigma of NTDs.

“As a result, his life was totally transformed – he learnt a trade, has a better understanding of washing and hygiene practices to prevent further infection, and he felt less ostracised in his community. He told his story in the uplifting film below; tragically he died this autumn, aged 19, and his story lives on as a beacon of hope for all those living with NTDs. .”

Find out more about Anas’ story, in his own words, here:

In 2024, QAV Ltd renewed their partnership with CBM, the Global Disability Inclusion Charity, through support of their Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programme, which tackles the causes, symptoms and stigma of NTDs in some of the world’s poorest communities.

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Community

Bringing hope to people living with NTDs

A mother in Nigeria washes the face of her son having accessed hygiene education on protecting her and her family from Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

A mother in Nigeria washes the face of her son having accessed hygiene education on protecting her and her family from Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Bringing hope to people living with NTDs.

QAV Ltd renewed their partnership with CBM, the Global Disability Charity, through support of their Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programme.

In 2024, QAV Ltd renewed their partnership with CBM, the Global Disability Charity, through support of their Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programme.

NTDs – such as trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) – bring immense suffering to those affected. They thrive mainly in rural areas, conflict zones, and hard-to-reach regions that lack quality and affordable healthcare services, and where access to clean water and sanitation is very restricted.

Those with an NTD live with constant pain, and it can impact an individual’s ability to earn a living or attend school. The stigma and discrimination that they and their families face can be devastating.

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by an infection from a parasitic worm spread by mosquitoes, which damages the immune system and can lead to the swelling and enlargement of body parts (elephantiasis), causing pain, severe disability and social stigma. River Blindness is also caused by a parasitic worm and spread by blackflies. It leads to severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions and visual impairment, including permanent blindness.

Around 200,000 NTD deaths occur annually, and 1.7 billion people worldwide (21% of the world’s population) are affected by, or at risk of, one or more of these chronic and disabling diseases.

A man gives a child some tablets from a bottle as part of a Mass Drug Administration programme in Nigeria.

“Sometimes, I think of going out, but I do not because of the shame of being among other people” Woman from Nigeria with lymphatic filariasis.

CBM’s NTD programmes aims to tackle both the cause and the effect (physical, social and mental health) of NTDs on individuals and their families. They aim to tackle them in a range of different ways to deliver a more comprehensive solution:

  • Breaking the infectious cycle through mass drug administration, treating at-risk communities with preventative medication.
  • Helping those already affected by infectious diseases, through the provision of limb care, surgical interventions, eye care and mental health support.
  • Preventing NTDs through Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) initiatives, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities to access WASH activities.
  • Delivering Community-based support, through initiatives to tackle the poverty, employment issues and discrimination that many suffer.

Last year, globally, CBM protected 2.56m people from Neglected Tropical Diseases.

CBM’s partnership with QAV Ltd supports our vital work in Nigeria, which accounts for about 25% of the burden of NTDs in Africa. By working together, we can deliver better outcomes for individuals and communities whose lives have been blighted by NTDs, lifting them out of the poverty-disability cycle and overcoming the stigma that so many face.

“Even the borehole near me I can’t fetch from there or even the well because the people won’t allow me” Adult with an NTD.

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Community

Leaving a Lasting Impact: Sustainable Support for Girls with Disabilities in Zimbabwe

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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

Leaving a Lasting Impact: Sustainable Support for Girls with Disabilities in Zimbabwe.

As part of our partnership with CBM UK, we are hearing from CBM Programme Manager Elfreda Whitty about one of their projects to improve educational outcomes of girls with disabilities in Zimbabwe, and the difference it has made.

It was a bittersweet feeling returning to Zimbabwe in May to see our learning hubs, witnessing the benefits that the project has had for girls with disabilities, while also knowing that the five-year project was coming to an end in July.

Image: From left to right: Plan Zimbabwe Community Mobiliser; Kirsty Smith, CEO CBM UK, Nomazulu, SAGE participant; Elfreda Whitty, Programme Manager CBM UK).

Over the course of the project, Supporting Adolescent Girls’ Education (SAGE) has supported 13,460 girls to achieve improved learning outcomes and transition into formal education, training or employment. A total of 689 girls with disabilities were enrolled in the project, with CBM supporting adaptations to their learning environment, and providing assistive devices such as crutches, wheelchairs, spectacles and hearing aids. A safe learning environment allowed girls with disabilities to register strong improvements in both learning and confidence. 

Empowering Girls with Disabilities 

Image: 15-year-old Nomazulu learned how to bake scones and sell them at school thanks to her participation in the SAGE project.

Many of the learning hubs established for this project are very rural and we spent several hours in the car to reach them. Once the girls felt comfortable with us in their classroom, a few told us that they had become more assertive and were far more aware of their rights around sexual and reproductive health (SRHR), where to access SRHR services, as well as the risks and implications related to unprotected sex and child marriage. 

One of the girls we met was 15-year-old Nomazulu, who has learning difficulties. Through SAGE she has learned to bake delicious scones and sell her products in the school and the community. Other girls were charging $3 to community members for new hairstyles, using hairdressing skills they had learned through the programme.

Sustainable Support 

While the project is coming to an end, a huge amount of work has been done to ensure that SAGE continues at every learning hub beyond the official project end. It was very encouraging to meet the Hub Development Committees (HDC) that had been set up and hear how much they cared about SAGE. 

Sitting with one HDC under a tree near to the classroom, members of the committee told us that the greatest change they had seen was those girls that had never been to school could now read and write. They also highlighted the fact that girls with disabilities were being supported with assistive devices such as wheelchairs and were able to improve their social skills through attending the hubs with other girls. The HDC reported that this had also helped in changing attitudes of the community towards persons with disabilities.  

The vice chair of the HDC told us that ‘the gift of this project comes with a responsibility’ as there are neighbouring communities asking about the SAGE model and how to do it. HDCs are currently being supported by the programme to develop community-based action plans and have been given some funds to start small incentive schemes, such as poultry rearing, to be able to continue to support the programme. CBM have also been setting up referral and service pathways with local Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) to ensure the girls with disabilities and their families continue to get support.  

Importantly, CBM and its SAGE partners continue to advocate to the Government of Zimbabwe to also provide support and take full ownership of this hugely impactful project, so that girls with disabilities and other marginalised girls can continue to benefit. 

This project was led by Plan International, with specialist support from CBM to ensure the inclusion of girls with disabilities.

Find out more about CBM’s work transforming the lives of people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places.

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Community Corporate Events Events Live events News QAV in the Community Virtual Events

WORK EXPERIENCE 2023

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NEWS

WORK EXPERIENCE 2023.

Over the course of the summer, QAV has proudly accommodated three young students with work experience across multiple departments within the company ranging from production technicians through to digital filming and editing.

QAV values offering work experience to students who are about to embark on further education. QAV strongly believes in investing in the future and supporting the local community all whilst giving young people a kick start to their careers. Giving them the opportunity to see which direction they want to travel in their lives.

Emily

Throughout her 2 weeks, Emily, from the Ely area, worked closely with our experienced AV team learning the everyday procedures of delivering a professional service in a timely, functional and safe manner. Emily got to experience first-hand what it takes to prep our shows from start to finish. From concept design artwork through to final confirmed kit lists. Then finally to deliver the promised show to our usual high standards.

At the end of her 2 weeks to see how shows work in a live environment, in conjunction with the team, Emily built her own ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ show. For one aspect of the show, utilising some of the industry-leading kit we have to offer and working closely with experienced technicians, Emily set up her own light show. This involved bright moving-head lights, suspended from truss hangs in our Warehouse, controlled by a lighting desk.

She also set up her own audio system. Controlling multiple microphones and speakers simultaneously from a digital sound desk. All whilst ensuring our cameramen and recorders were also getting a clear audio signal.

Projectors were set up on our Fast-Fold screens to display the game show for both participants and viewers before finally undertaking the live show with live hosts and participants.

Emily added – “Exploring equipment like lighting, audio, projecting, cameras and setting equipment up in general has opened my mind and given me a wide variety of choices that I could possibly explore in the future.”

Riley

Riley joined us for a week’s work experience, with an interest in design, film and editing. Working closely with our digital team Riley worked on various media projects across different platforms.

At the start of the week Riley worked with our Graphic Designers to create a logo which could be used later in the week on the other media projects. She learnt the basics of Adobe Illustrator to create a logo based around her name and love of cats. Sourcing different fonts, manipulating images and playing with different colour options.

This logo was then imported into Blender where Riley learnt the basics of the software to create a short looping 3D animation.

Mid-week Riley created a short movie trailer using a framework template. Sourcing additional images and footage to insert into template, selecting the best clips and adjusting the footage speed to match the background music. She also added movie titling and her previously made logo at the end.

Towards the end of the week she learnt about the filming processes we use at QAV. Learning how to setup our interview cameras, and lighting setup. She then filmed some interviews with various members of staff, asking some pre-prepared questions. She then edited the footage, colour grading it, normalising the audio. Before adding on-screen titling in the lower thirds.

Riley added – “Thank you for having me for work experience, I have had an amazing week. I have really enjoyed working here and developing new skills that I can use in the future. It has also helped to boost my confidence in these skills and this feels like a good first step to a career in media.”

James

After a successful and productive engagement as part of last year’s work experience, we were thrilled to welcome James back to our team for an extended duration over the course of this summer.

Continuing from his positive work experience with us last year, it was great to see his dedication and positive attitude return as he lent a hand with our Stock Take and PAT Testing activities.

James’ willingness to come back speaks volumes about the positive environment we’re building here. His previous experience proved invaluable as he seamlessly integrated into our current projects with the team. From helping to manage our inventory with our stock take, to ensuring the safety of our equipment through PAT Testing.

This year James also helped with creating some of our social media content, learning the process from discussing the ideas, taking and choosing the best photos and coming up with accompanying text to bring everything together.

Last year, like many students before him, his meticulous approach to tasks stood out and it was a pleasure to welcome him back for another summer’s work. We appreciate his commitment to accuracy and efficiency and it aligns perfectly with our team’s objectives.

James added – “Thank you for having me back at QAV. I have enjoyed working as part of the team and hope I can come back again next summer.”

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Corporate Events Events Live events News Virtual Events

June Recap 2023

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June Recap 2023.

We have been looking back at the busy month of June and specifically a popular single week of events. Over the course of the week, we undertook 7 events including a series of video shoots spanning 5 different countries.

See below for a breakdown of where we have been and what we have been up to.

Hybrid IM.

Date: 12th June 2023
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Overview: 1-day Hybrid Investigator Meeting
Audience: 50 In-House and 50 Online Audience

We used a standard frameset setup for this meeting with re-useable branded graphics. This meeting was for both a small on-site audience and a wider virtual audience. To ensure everyone could ask questions we used our custom-built question submission app. This allowed the presenters to view and manage all the audience questions in one place, via a tablet.

Hybrid IM.

Date: 13th – 14th June 2023
Location: Madrid, Spain
Overview: 2-day Hybrid Investigator Meeting, with interactive polling, question submission, video playback and 12 remote presenters
Audience: 85 In-House and 40 Online Audience

We used a standard frameset setup for this meeting with re-useable branded graphics. This meeting was for both a small on-site audience and a larger virtual audience. We used online voting and question submission so both the in-house and online audiences could feel included. This meeting also had a large number of remote presenters which we managed from our webcast suite in our UK office.

Hybrid IM.

Date: 14th – 16th June 2023
Location: Madrid, Spain
Overview: 3-day Hybrid Investigator Meeting, with interactive polling, question submission and interactive workshops
Audience: 130 In-House and 130 Online Audience

The smaller CRA room had our standard frameset setup with re-useable branded graphics. The larger IM room had a large dual-screen custom stage set. On the 1st day, the on-site audience split into smaller discussion groups for a workshop session. We also split the online audience into smaller workshop groups. At the end of the session, everyone returned to hear feedback from both the on-site and online audience.

Ad Board.

Date: 14th – 15th June 2023
Location: Milan, Italy
Overview: Ad Board
Audience: 20 attendees In-House and 15 Online Audience

This Ad Board meeting utilised the remote cameras we have on our hire stock due to the limited venue room size. These cameras allowed our technicians to sit out of sight controlling the cameras from a distance, whilst still streaming live to the virtual audience.

During this project, we experienced unfortunate travel issues with cancelled and re-scheduled flights. Working with the options available to us, QAV were proud to be able to deliver the promised event, regardless of the uncontrollable complications.

Hybrid IM.

Date: 14th – 16th June 2023
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Overview: 3-day Hybrid Investigator Meeting, with interactive polling, question submission and workshops
Audience: 400 In-House and 100 Online Audience

Due to the large on-site audience, this meeting was held in a congress centre. The stage set was a large custom-printed setup flown from the ceiling. Large projectors and speaker stacks were also hung from truss runs, ensuring that even those sitting at the back of the room could see and hear the meeting.

The meeting was streamed virtually to those who couldn’t attend in person, with live camera feeds displaying the presenter’s presentations. Remote presenters were also able to present to the room utilising our refined webcast services.

This meeting also included 20 smaller concurrent workshops. The overall audience was split between the breakout rooms to conduct smaller meetings, all overseen by the staff at QAV.

Simon, the event’s Project Manager, said “These larger shows are a great experience for everybody involved. We strive to provide the very best facilities creating a memorable experience for both presenters and attendees, all whilst staying within budgets and maximising on potential where we can”.

Hybrid IM.

Date: 15th – 16th June 2023
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Overview: 1-day Hybrid Investigator Meeting, with question submission and remote presenters.
Audience: 70 In-House and 30 Online Audience

This Investigator Meeting was comprised of our custom-branded reusable set graphics ensuring we can minimise our waste wherever we can. As well as setting up the meeting room incorporating the audio system, projectors and live cameras for both streaming and post-event edits, the team also set up an ‘office’ room for the onsite logistics company. This gave them access to our fast printers helping to support this fantastic event.

Interview and panel discussion filming.

Date: 12th – 16th June 2023
Location: Milan, Italy & Lugano, Switzerland
Overview: Series of Video Shoots with on-site editing
Equipment: 4k URSA MINI Pro’s and Aputure light kits
Output: 11 x edited video’s

Our camera crew travelled to the South of Switzerland to the city of Lugano where our crew undertook a series of interviews and panel discussions. The edit was sent to the client with a quick turnaround of the next working day with our on-site portable edit suite. Over the course of 5 days, 11 individual shoots were recorded.

If you would like to learn more about our meeting services, please reach out to us and one of our team will be happy to talk you through what we have to offer.

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Corporate Events Events Live events News Virtual Events

QAV’S VIRTUAL MEETING SERVICES

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QAV NEWS

QAV'S VIRTUAL MEETING SERVICES.

QAV have been providing webcasting services for over 15 years and continue to grow. Our custom built webcast and record suites have given us an increased capacity and flexibility to expand on our global deliveries.

QAV have been providing webcasting services for over 15 years, with our own developed webcast extension system called Connect Plus. Connect Plus utilises Adobe Connect, Zoom and WebEx.

In the last 3 years QAV have successfully undertaken over 1000 webinars.

Pre and post the pandemic the number of webcast projects still continue to grow. Our custom built webcast and record suites have given us an increased capacity and flexibility to expand on our global deliveries.

James Hampton (Associate Director) summed up. “5 webcasts and 3 remote records in one working day proves we have the ability to deliver, but most importantly in the most professional manner”.

While COVID still had a big impact on the events industry, within QAV, there is a positive buzz of survival and growth across the whole company as we focus our services on providing live events, film production, hybrid events and remote only webcasts plus any associated services. The flexibility of the staff and the efforts in providing additional training ensured that growth was maintained even throughout the pandemic. Resulting in continued team expansion.

Below is a brief overview of the various meeting options.

Remote Only Meeting

  • All presenters, delegates and technical crew are remote.
  • No travel required
  • Audience engagement through question submission and polling questions.
  • Live presenter and delegate tracking
  • Presentation delivery can be a combination of live and pre-recorded (Pseudo live)

Hybrid Meeting

Traditionally our hybrid meeting delivery consists of a live face to face audience with presenters in person or remote.

The meeting is also streamed to those site participants who could not attend due to, availability, travel restriction, regulatory issues or sponsor limitations.

We can offer both single-site and multi-site hybrid meetings.

Single-site Meeting: This consists of a central ‘Hub site’ in which the faculty are located as well as a local audience, with the meeting also being streamed to a wider online audience.

    • The value of a hybrid meeting delivery is that the sponsor is not limited on audience numbers to view the presentations therefore increasing their message delivery.
    • Site participants appreciate being given the option to attend either face to face or virtually
    • Virtual audiences still have the opportunity to engage with the face-to-face meeting through question submission and polling questions.

Multi-site Meeting: This is a combination delivery of a central ‘Hub site’ in which the faculty are located and a number of multiple local audience sites. Each local site has a local country face to face audience, who receive the central presentation from the hub site.

    • Value of the ‘Multi-Site Hybrid’ delivery is that it limits international travel whilst ensuring a global message from the clinical team at the ‘Hub site’
    • Local sites can share experiences with peer to peer communication as well as building relations with the sponsor country representatives.
    • ‘Local sites’ can engage with the ‘Hub Site’ during Q&A sessions and partake in polling questions through additional applications
    • ‘Multi-Site Hybrid’ delivery also caters for those participants who wish to view the broadcast from their own location over a hub site, but still have to option to ask questions and submit a vote.

If you would like to learn more about our virtual meeting services, please reach out to us and one of our team will be happy to talk you through what we have to offer.

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QAV in the Community

QAV Screen Donation

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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

QAV Screen Donation.

QAV Global are proud to be able to support such a valuable local resource, Eddie’s (part of the Edmunds Trust) by donating some of our former hire stock screens looking for a new home.

Edmund Trust is 75 years old and one of Cambridge’s oldest and largest social care providers. The Edmunds Trust has been doing amazing work across the East of England providing lifelong opportunities and equal lifestyles for the people who need it. Striving to empower people with disabilities and promote a positive ethos.

Eddie’s is an operating division of The Edmund Trust. Providing a wide range of services for children, young people, and adults with learning or physical disabilities, whilst also supporting their families and carers.

They support volunteering for children and young people giving Mums and Dads an essential break. Providing daytime activities in March and in Milton for people to gain lifelong skills and manage their mental health and independence.

Delivering a piece of work for the NHS on supporting youngsters under 25 who have autism and learning disabilities who are at risk of admission to hospital due to their mental health.

They also have a hydrotherapy pool in Fulbourn, Cambridge that is used exclusively by the disabled community – Hydrotherapy for those who don’t know, is a way to relieve pain, relax and strengthen muscles and increase circulation around the body.

The aim with these screens is support those with visual impairments in their offices. To share information and opportunities at the hydrotherapy pool, and to share activities with people they support in their day-to-day projects in the Fenland and Milton Art Works.

This is not the 1st time QAV have donated items to Eddie’s. A few years back we donated some printed backdrops which are still used in the dining room today. Creating a sensory nightclub feel in a dining space for people with special needs.

Finally, a shared opinion with Mark at Eddie’s we would like to promote, is just how easy Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is. Often companies go for the replace or dump, rather than offer out and give it a new home. We urge all who can do so, to think about where their unused technology may be able to support others within these incredible charitable organisations, as you may not be aware of how helpful these donations can be to other communities within society.

If you would like to find out more about the great work they do at Eddies, or how you can get involved you can read more here: https://eddies.org.uk/

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Community

Improving hearing care in Zambia

Tobile is outdoors surrounded by long grass, her arms thrown in the air, a radiant smile on her face
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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

Tobile is outdoors surrounded by long grass, her arms thrown in the air, a radiant smile on her face

Improving hearing care in Zambia | June 2023.

As part of our partnership with CBM UK, we are hearing about their work to improve ear and hearing care in Zambia, and the difference it made for six-year-old Tobile and her Mum
As part of our partnership with CBM UK, we are hearing about their work to improve ear and hearing care in Zambia, and the difference it made for six-year-old Tobile and her Mum.

Tobile’s story

“I first realised that Tobile has serious hearing problems when she didn’t start talking like other children” explains her Mum, Clara. “Tobile went to school but she wasn’t able to interact. She was treated badly by the other children and also by the teachers.”

CBM’s partner, Beit CURE Hospital, diagnosed that Tobile was deaf in her left ear; with the right ear she could hear just a little bit.

When Tobile was fitted with a hearing aid, all of a sudden she looked very much surprised. The audiology technician asked her: “How old are you?” “Six”, she responded. Her Mum couldn’t believe it, and needed to control her tears. “Can you hear me?” she whispered. “Yes, I can hear everything, Mama!” Tobile smiled.

Before leaving, Tobile walked with her Mum through the backyard of the hospital. First, she was a bit shy beside her mother, then all of a sudden, she shouted: “I can hear the birds!” Tobile smiled and ran around with her arms outstretched. Clara just laughed – “That is pure happiness!”

Tobile sits on her mother’s lap, with a hearing aid visible in her ear. They are both smiling.

“Six-year-old Tobile was fitted with a hearing aid by CBM partners Beit CURE Hospital in Zambia.”

Improving ear and hearing care in Zambia

In Zambia, just one audiologist and five ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists serve a population of more than 19 million people.

The impact of hearing loss is serious and far-reaching. It is both a cause and consequence of poverty. It is an under-recognised consequence of major diseases – and sometimes their treatments. Adults with hearing loss often face unemployment, and communication barriers affect relationships as well as access to information and services. In children, it leads to poor language and cognitive development, and routinely results in a struggle to access education. Hardship and stigma are a reality for all ages and genders.

With our partner Beit Cure Hospital, CBM’s PrevENT project worked from 2017 to 2022 to improve ear and hearing care in three Central Province districts in Zambia. For more than one million people living in Central Province, this project marked the availability of formal, integrated community and specialist ear and hearing care services for the very first time.

During the course of the project:

  • 106 primary health facilities were provided with necessary ear care equipment and medical supplies
  • 13 audiology technicians and 127 nurses and clinical officers were trained in ear and hearing healthcare, including hearing loss identification, treatment of common ear diseases, referral pathways and health promotion
  • 237 community based volunteers were trained in healthcare promotion

Together, these healthcare workers delivered an incredible 120,000 consultations and services over the lifetime of the project. As long as services are maintained, this number stands to increase substantially in the coming years. This project has been a success not only for the individuals who were able to access treatment, but also in substantially strengthening local systems for years to come.

Find out more about CBM’s work transforming the lives of people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places.

Image Copyright: CBM/Daniel Hayduk

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QAV in the Community

QAV CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION 2023.

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QAV IN THE COMMUNITY

QAV Christmas Tree Collection 2023.

QAV staff donated time and vehicles over 3 days at the start of January collecting approximately 200 Christmas Trees.
Back again for a 3rd year to support a good cause.

After offering our services to this good cause for the last 2 years, we have been back out again for a 3rd year, joining #TeamArthur collecting Christmas trees across Cambridgeshire raising money and awareness for the Arthur Rank Hospice and their Christmas Tree collection campaign. QAV staff donated time and vehicles over 3 days at the start of January collecting over 200 Christmas Trees. We collected and recycled in these postcode areas CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24 & CB25 (covering Waterbeach and Landbeach) and PE13 & PE15 between 12th – 15th January 2023.

This year 170 volunteers across Cambridgeshire collected 3500 trees, raising over £60,000 for the Arthur Rank Hospice.

Arthur Rank Hospice supports people living in Cambridgeshire with an advanced serious illness or a life-limiting condition and those in need of end-of-life care. They care for more than 4,100 patients each year at their Hospice in Cambridgeshire, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech and in patients’ own homes via the Arthur Rank Community Team. Their outstanding care is provided free of charge to patients and their families.                       

To find out more about Arthur Rank Hospice Christmas tree recycling go to https://www.arhc.org.uk/fundraising/fundraise-your-way/community-initiatives/christmas-tree-recycling/

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