The Vice Chancellor,  Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Oragun, in Osun State, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, has called on the Federal Government to include the provision of hearing aids in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to stem the growth of hearing loss.

Lasisi, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, made the call while delivering the 538th inaugural lecture of Nigeria’s premier university under the auspices of its College of Medicine. He is of Department of Otorhinolaryngology on behalf of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences

The lecture was hosted by the UI’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor (Academics),  Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju.

The lecture attracted scholars, professors, professionals, friends  and family  members from  the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, UI, the University College Hospital {UCH}, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Oragun; Osun State, and other places, including Prof. Isiak Oloyede of the Joints Admissions and Matriculation Board {JAMB};  Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun {UI College of Medicine Provost}, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo {UCH CMD}, Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye and others.

Lasisi said: ‘’I recommend the commencement of National hearing screening for all newborns; an urgent need to include provision of hearing aids in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to stem the growth of hearing loss; and the provision of basic facilities for the diagnosis of hearing loss. Presently, most of the gene sequencing methods are sourced.

‘’I strongly recommend that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health should give serious consideration to the strengthening of the Nigerian National Hearing Policy. A policy, describing how infants and young children with hearing loss can best be identified at an early stage so that they will be given the greatest chance for effective rehabilitation. Such comprehensive policy will consider issues such as: What kind of hearing impairments should be detected? When should the hearing screening be done? Who should be screened? Which screening method should be used? These are the issues that should be articulated in the nationwide early identification and intervention policy for hearing loss.

‘’In addition, provision should be made for a complete identification programme, which would be implemented before pregnancy (i.e., using a high-risk register to identify women who may be susceptible to giving birth to children with hearing loss due to genetic and other factors) and during pregnancy. [152, 153, 154] These policies and laws are necessary in the provision of services because they have (i) protective safeguards, which guarantee the rights of the beneficiary to receive specific services, (ii) time of onset and phase plans, (iii) consequential effect (that is, punishment) for non-compliance, (iv) room for litigation, (v) accountability, evaluation and monitoring procedures, and (vi) financial backing and structure.

‘’Lastly, I strongly recommend that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health should give serious consideration to the establishing and strengthening of the National Committee on Ear and Hearing to formulate the Nigerian National Hearing Policy. This will create strong advocacy and bring pressure to bear on the policymakers and/or government to take into consideration the needs of deaf people in policy formulation.

“ There is a need to synergise with the Nigeria National Association for Deaf and the Nigerian Advisory Council for Deaf so that they can make a significant impact on the condition of services for the deaf’’.