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allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Explosions - More Citizens to Go Deaf
A medical consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, has hinted that more Nigerians may become deaf as a fallout of the incessant bomb explosions in some parts of the country.
Consultant Otolaryngologist in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department of the hospital, Dr. Abiodun Olusesi, who gave this hint in an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, noted that deafness as a medical condition triggered off other forms of disorder.
According to the consultant, who spoke in the company of the head of the ENT department of the Albert-Ludwigs University, Freidurg, Prof Roland Laszig, one of the lasting impact of the various bomb explosions would be an increase in the number of ear impairment cases in the country.
Olusesi, a head and neck surgeon, called for urgent action to end the spate of bomb explosions in the country and noted that ear impairment usually triggered off speech impairments as well as some level of mental ill-health.
"apart from the bomb explosions which pose a threat to the ears, noise pollution which is becoming increasingly alarming contributed to the increasing number of persons with hearing disorder"' he said.
According to Olusesi, when ear impairment affects the inner ear, called the cochlear, it was not treated in the country due to lack of the necessary facilities. He however affirmed that with the commencement of the cochlear implantation in the hospital more Nigerians would be saved the distress of going abroad for the surgery.
He made a case for the inclusion of ear-related diseases in the list of ailments captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for subscribers to the scheme who suffered ear impairment but could not afford treatment abroad had no option for treatment.
According to him, the surgery, which usually lasted several months, cost millions of dollars.
"Nigerians in the past travelled to countries like South Africa, Egypt and other countries of Europe and America in order to do the cochlear implantation. They spend several months and huge sums of money to restore their hearing.
"I can confirm to you that the National Hospital has commenced cochlear implantation. Nigerians will no longer have to travel abroad for this treatment," he affirmed.
Olusesi, coordinator of the cochlear implantation project in the hospital who lamented that subscribers to the NHIS who come down with any form of ear impairment do not get any form of assistance from the programme. This, he said, was unfair to the subscribers who have to handle any ear impairment with their own funds.
The medical consultant also disclosed that more Nigerians were faced with ear impairments resulting from increasing noise pollution including the spate of bomb explosions which he said, exposed many Nigerians to high degree of noise.
Prof Laszig in his reaction compared the situation in Germany with that of Nigeria said the cochlear implantation which was just coming into the country had been in existence in Germany for several decades. According to him with Nigeria having twice the population of Nigerian, cases of ear impairment requiring cochlear implantation could be twice as much as are in Germany.
Meanwhile Dr. Olusesi disclosed to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the hospital has commenced cochlear implantation in the country. This he said would end the right of Nigerians who travel.
A medical consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, has hinted that more Nigerians may become deaf as a fallout of the incessant bomb explosions in some parts of the country.
Consultant Otolaryngologist in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department of the hospital, Dr. Abiodun Olusesi, who gave this hint in an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, noted that deafness as a medical condition triggered off other forms of disorder.
According to the consultant, who spoke in the company of the head of the ENT department of the Albert-Ludwigs University, Freidurg, Prof Roland Laszig, one of the lasting impact of the various bomb explosions would be an increase in the number of ear impairment cases in the country.
Olusesi, a head and neck surgeon, called for urgent action to end the spate of bomb explosions in the country and noted that ear impairment usually triggered off speech impairments as well as some level of mental ill-health.
"apart from the bomb explosions which pose a threat to the ears, noise pollution which is becoming increasingly alarming contributed to the increasing number of persons with hearing disorder"' he said.
According to Olusesi, when ear impairment affects the inner ear, called the cochlear, it was not treated in the country due to lack of the necessary facilities. He however affirmed that with the commencement of the cochlear implantation in the hospital more Nigerians would be saved the distress of going abroad for the surgery.
He made a case for the inclusion of ear-related diseases in the list of ailments captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for subscribers to the scheme who suffered ear impairment but could not afford treatment abroad had no option for treatment.
According to him, the surgery, which usually lasted several months, cost millions of dollars.
"Nigerians in the past travelled to countries like South Africa, Egypt and other countries of Europe and America in order to do the cochlear implantation. They spend several months and huge sums of money to restore their hearing.
"I can confirm to you that the National Hospital has commenced cochlear implantation. Nigerians will no longer have to travel abroad for this treatment," he affirmed.
Olusesi, coordinator of the cochlear implantation project in the hospital who lamented that subscribers to the NHIS who come down with any form of ear impairment do not get any form of assistance from the programme. This, he said, was unfair to the subscribers who have to handle any ear impairment with their own funds.
The medical consultant also disclosed that more Nigerians were faced with ear impairments resulting from increasing noise pollution including the spate of bomb explosions which he said, exposed many Nigerians to high degree of noise.
Prof Laszig in his reaction compared the situation in Germany with that of Nigeria said the cochlear implantation which was just coming into the country had been in existence in Germany for several decades. According to him with Nigeria having twice the population of Nigerian, cases of ear impairment requiring cochlear implantation could be twice as much as are in Germany.
Meanwhile Dr. Olusesi disclosed to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the hospital has commenced cochlear implantation in the country. This he said would end the right of Nigerians who travel.