Awareness drives and local initiative to share the gift of hearing on World Hearing Day Image Credit: Shutterstock More than 70 million people suffer from hearing disability around the world, with an estimate also suggesting that more than 80 per cent of people who are clinically deaf said to exist in the world’s developing nations. A global initiative fronted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Hearing Day is commemorated annually on March 3 to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. With an annual theme for World Hearing Day decided upon by WHO, the theme for 2021 is Hearing Care For All. At its headquarters in Geneva, WHO organises an annual World Hearing Day event.