Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux,and the Miss South Africa Organisation are proud to announce a partnership with the Dis-Chem Foundation which will see cochlear implants given to a number of hearing impaired individuals who cannot afford the life-altering device. The Gift of Hearing forms part of Le Roux’s advocacy campaign, the Mia Le Roux Movement, a platform dedicated to advocating for deaf people in South Africa while also raising awareness about all forms of exclusion.
Cochlear implants directly stimulate the part of the ear that doesn't work or is damaged by using a mild electrical current. It can benefit adults and children with severe hearing loss who cannot understand speech even with powerful hearing aids. Hearing loss is regarded as one of the worlds’ most treatable disabilities with medical technology making it possible to restore hearing for many by means of a cochlear implant.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide have some degree of hearing loss. This is about 20% of the global population including an estimated four million deaf people in South Africa.
The Dis-Chem Foundation is a major donor to Operation Healing Hands and will be supplying the cochlear implants and working with the organisation’s specialist Dr Helene
Basson and her team who will be providing pro bono surgery as well as the audiologists and speech therapists to work with the recipients after their operations. Those in need who are assessed and require hearing aids instead of cochlear implants will also benefit from this partnership.
Cochlear implant recipients require ongoing therapy post-surgery to learn how to interpret and understand speech effectively. Depending on the individual, it can take years to reach full hearing potential as the brain adapts to the new sound information.
Diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, Le Roux received her cochlear a year later. Reflecting on this pivotal moment in her life, Le Roux says: “It took a further two years of speech therapy and continued repetition of words before I looked up to the sky one day and said my first four words: ‘Kyk daar, wit wolke – look there, white clouds’.”
She continues: “I am delighted with this partnership – it is particularly apt ahead of World Hearing Day on March 3 – and I am pleased that we will be continuing to raise awareness around the issue. It isn’t simply about the operation but also about sustainability and providing support in the years that follow.”
Adds the Dis-Chem Foundation: “The Dischem Foundation is delighted to be partnering with
the Mia le Roux Movement and sharing the gift of hearing. This project is just the start in creating a meaningful difference in the lives of those with hearing impairments.”
It has also been announced that Dis-Chem will be using closed captions in relevant content
going forward. Le Roux will also be announcing the partnership in a TV commercial aired during the
broadcast of Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) this Sunday (February 16) between 19h00 and 20h05.
Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International.
S3 is the official broadcast partner. AFI is the official fashion sponsor. Go to:
https://www.misssa.co.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissSouthAfricaOfficial
X: @Official_MissSA
Instagram: @official_misssa
Tik-Tok: @official_misssa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MissSouthAfricaOfficial
https://www.dischem.co.za/dis-chem-foundation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dischem
X: @Dischem
Instagram: dischem_pharmacies
TikTok: dischem_pharmacies
YouTube: @DischemTV
