MONROVIA – Church Aid Inc., a humanitarian initiative of the New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church International, has successfully graduated eight Hearing Instrument Specialists.
The program, which costs an estimated US$160,000, aims to improve access to quality hearing care in Liberia.
The graduates, including the newly certified Blessing F. Acqui, are now serving in seven major public and private health centers across six counties.
Blessing, who completed her training at the Starkey Hearing Institute in Lusaka, Zambia, shared her inspiring journey. “From the moment I arrived, I felt a spark of excitement about what lay ahead,” she recounted.
“The environment was buzzing with people from different countries and backgrounds united by a shared goal to improve lives through better hearing care.”
The training program combined theoretical instruction with hands-on practical sessions, equipping participants with the skills and confidence to provide personalized hearing solutions.
For Blessing, the experience was as much about personal growth as professional development. “Living and learning at the institute allowed me to bond with incredible individuals. We shared stories, ideas, and experiences, which made me realize the vast potential of change we can bring as a collective team,” she said.
Returning to Liberia, Blessing said she is determined to use her new expertise to raise the standard of hearing health care.
Blessing expressed her commitment to creating patient-centered services and advocating for hearing health awareness in underserved areas.
“Hearing is not just about sound; it’s about connection. I feel privileged to play a role in restoring that connection for others,” Blessing averred.
Church Aid has maintained that its investment in training local professionals like Blessing reflects its commitment to addressing critical gaps in Liberia’s healthcare system.
The organization’s partnership with the Starkey Hearing Institute and other global stakeholders underscores its mission to make quality hearing care accessible to all.
Church Aid Head, Bishop Kortu K. Brown has meanwhile noted, that Blessing’s story, alongside her peers’, symbolizes hope and progress for Liberians who have long struggled with hearing loss. As she puts it, “So the world may hear.”
