Infant Hearing Screening in Nigeria
Dateline: Friday, June 24, 2005. Lagos, Nigeria
The maiden infant hearing screening (IHS) programme in Nigeria has been officially launched by the Federal Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos. This pilot programme is a collaborative project between Hearing International Nigeria (HING) and the Federal Ministry of Health sequel to the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 48.9 of 1995. It was conceived to promote early detection of permanent childhood hearing loss in Nigeria in line with the current best practices in neonatal care and the 2005 Revised National Child Health Policy. Routine screening for hearing loss is rare during clinical examination of infants and young children in Nigeria. Consequently, majority of infants with severe-to-profound hearing loss are often not detected until age 2 years and above when intervention is sub-optimal.
Under this project babies will undergo a two-stage screening with otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR). The instruments were graciously provided by Otodynamics (UK) Ltd, Fischer-Zoth Audiologic, Germany and Natus Medical Inc., USA. Diagnostic ABR equipment was also donated by Oticon Foundation of Denmark through Interacoustics Ltd. Other aspects of the project are presently funded through private donations.
Lagos Island Maternity Hospital was chosen as the first screening site because of its long-history as a leading birthing centre in Nigeria. Screening will also be extended to Massey Children’s Hospital, Lagos in due course, to cater for a good number of children born outside hospitals that require special care or DPT immunisation at 6 weeks. A similar scheme is planned for Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Kano under the second phase. The modalities for infant hearing screening in Nigeria are expected to evolve from the results of this and other pilot projects.
Under this pilot programme parents are not required to pay for the hearing screening while hearing aids and parental counselling will be provided also at no cost for those babies who may require support after the diagnostic evaluation.
Present at this historic event were the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, top functionaries of the health ministries at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, a broad spectrum of health professionals and many expectant or nursing mothers. The WHO country Representative in Nigeria was in attendance, besides a goodwill message from the Coordinator, Chronic Diseases Prevention and Management, at WHO, Geneva.. Other goodwill messages were received from Professor Adrian Davis, Director of NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and MRC Hearing and Communication Group, UK; Professor Karl White Director, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, (NCHAM) USA; Professor Adenike Grange, President, International Pediatric Association, Dr. Babagana Ahmad, Director of the National Ear Care Centre in Nigeria.
An educational booklet for parents and health workers titled: “A Sound Start for Every Child” authored by the National Coordinator of HING/IHS Programme Manager was also presented by the Health Minister to commemorate the launch. The booklet addresses ten essential questions on IHS in Nigeria which can be readily adapted to other countries. It also contains a compendium of articles that provide the scientific rationale for IHS in Nigeria. The publication was graciously funded by the Education Trust Fund, Nigeria.
The event was extensively covered by the major local newspapers and the national television, besides a variety of pre-launch media interviews with the IHS coordinator, Dr Bola Olusanya.
Excerpts of Some Goodwill Messages
“We are pleased to hear about the collaborative project on infant hearing screening in Nigeria between the Federal Ministry of Health and Hearing International Nigeria, consequent to the World Health Assembly Resolution on Prevention of Hearing Impairment WHA 48.9, 1995. It is hoped that countries which implement such activities, can include them as an element in a comprehensive national programme on deafness and hearing impairment. ”
Dr. Serge Resnikoff
Coordinator, Chronic Diseases Prevention and Management
WHO, Geneva
“Please accept my warm congratulations on launching your Newborn Hearing Screening Service in Lagos. In promoting the role of newborn hearing screening your country is directly investing in the new generation, and newborn hearing screening will help you ensure that all children in Lagos and later in Nigeria develop good communication skills and have the greatest potential to benefit from their education. The NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme wishes you every success in implementing and sustaining newborn hearing screening in your country.”
Professor Adrian Davis
Director, NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and MRC Hearing and Communication Group, UK
“I am writing to congratulate you on the wonderful accomplishment of beginning newborn hearing screening in Nigeria. Because hearing loss interferes with our ability to communicate with other people, it is a devastating disability. As a result of your work to implement newborn hearing screening programs in Nigeria, tens of thousands of children will have the benefits that come from early identification and intervention. As a result of this program, children in Nigeria will be able to communicate with their friends and family members, do better in school, and ultimately be more productive members of society. Although you and your colleagues have expended a great deal of energy and money to reach the point that you are ready to launch a universal newborn hearing screening program in Nigeria, I am sure it will be worth it.”
Professor Karl R. White
Director, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, (NCHAM) USA