Pursuance to total restoration of lost hearing amongst Nigerians, the National Ear Care Centre Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria, has begun cochlear implantations for total restoration of lost hearing with speech rehabilitation. The breakthrough has already been implanted for five Kaduna Patients at the hospital.
Speaking with the Medical Director National Ear Care Centre Kaduna, Dr Mustapha Abubakar Yaro revealed that foreign surgeons had earlier trained the local surgeons to effectively and independently manage cochlear implantation and will continue until complete take- over of the process from foreign surgeons.
‘’As we sustain this program, we will also submit a report to the Federal Government and the National Assembly so that it could be captured under the health insurance program .’’Yaro added.
On effectiveness of the cochlear implant, the representative of Medel an Australian based Medical Electronics company partnering National Ear Care Centre led by Dr. Mohamed El Disouky who is the Development and Regional Manager for African said ‘’ though very expensive, the process is very safe and effective as the entire restoration process comes with four programs to increase loudness every week carefully to avoid stimulation stressing that the price could reduce when more patients are involved.’’
Also, the National Ear Centre Hospital coordinator of the program Dr. Mohammed Sani revealed that after patients get the cochlear implanted, they move to the Switch on or activation process and then the speech rehabilitation proper. He maintained that, with this development, Nigerians may not have to travel overseas for total hearing restoration.
Earlier, 6years old Rufai Dikko Kabiru who lost hearing from birth had his implant which was done in December 2020 activated. Commending the National Ear Centre, the father of Rufai, Alhaji Dikko Kabiru expressed satisfaction with the process saying Government should step in to enable more participation.
