The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Mohammadu Buhari (L), holds his voter’s card to register with his wife, Aisha (C), on March 28, 2015 in Gidan Niyam Sakin Yara in Daura in Katsina State. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has charged medical authorities in the country to ensure the provision of adequate diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative services in hospitals across the country, in order to reduce the number of Nigerians with hearing disabilities.
She also spoke of the need for the populace to be informed about the availability of such services as loss of hearing does not signify an end to life, and because interventions on hearing loss are available and are cost-effective.
She was speaking at an event organized to mark World Hearing Day by the State House Clinic, Abuja, Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
“The populace must be encouraged to prevent themselves by going for regular screening, and rehabilitating themselves through hearing devices.” She said.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s event “ACTION FOR HEARING LOSS: MAKE A SOUND INVESTMENT”
Mrs. Buhari drew attention to the fact that taking action is indeed an investment, because hearing loss has economic repercussions, as well as significant impact on the lives of those affected.
Mrs. Buhari was represented by Mrs. Mairo Tanko Almakura, wife of the Governor of Nasarawa state.
The President of the Oto – Rhino – Laryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON), umbrella organisation for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists, Prof. OGB Nwaorgu advocated that Neonatal Hearing screening should be made mandatory in all health facilities to ensure that babies with hearing loss or predisposed to hearing loss are identified early.
He also identified noise as an increasing source of hearing loss, citing chronic exposure to moderate sounds as very dangerous to the ear. He therefore called for regulation on noise emission, control and abatement, to preserve and maintain public health; specifically citing noise originating from industrial, commercial, domestic, sport, recreational, transportation or similar activities.
The meeting was attended by representative of Minister of Health and Chief Medical Director National Hospital, Dr. Jack Momoh, Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi, Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina and Emir of Borgu, among others.