On 28-30.10.2013 the World Hearing Center of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing received a visit of Dr. Gilbert Tending from the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of the State University Hospital CHNU in Fann, Dakar, in Senegal. During the visit, Prof. Henryk, Director of the Institute, and Dr. Gilbert Tending signed the agreement of scientific collaboration.

One of the more important tasks that the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing sets to itself, is the popularization of the idea of early detection and treatment of communication disorders, not only in Poland, but also internationally. An important part of this task is a mission of promoting and organizing the pilot screening programs of sensory organs in countries, where access to medical services is difficult. Visit of Dr. Gilbert Tending, head of the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of the State University Hospital CHNU in Fann, in Dakar, capital of Senegal, was aimed at establishing scientific cooperation, particularly in fields of early diagnostics and prophylaxis of sensory organs’ disorders and telemedicine.

During this visit, Dr. Tending learned about the works of the World Hearing Center and its particular clinics and departments and had an opportunity to observe the first in Poland implantation of the new type of a bone conduction hearing aid – BAHA Attract – performed by Prof. H. Skarżyński. During his meeting with a  team of the Institute, Dr. G. Tending told about his country, and in the first place about the difficult situation of otorhinolaryngology in Senegal. In the entire Senegal there are only 29 ORL doctors, and only 8 of them work outside Dakar. It means that the large part of population has no access to specialist consultations and healthcare. For these people, screening examinations organized in cooperation with the Institute could be the only occasion in life to have a hearing examination. Collaboration agreement signed in Kajetany on 29.10.2013 is the first step on the road to this goal.