During the month of Ramadan, the Suleiman Hearing and Educational Foundation (SHEF) organized a special hearing support program aimed at providing critical hearing care to underserved communities. This program featured a 3-day free surgical intervention for hearing held at Kano Hospital, Pharmacy, and Diagnostic Centre, alongside a broader support campaign running from June 3rd to June 15th, 2022. About 50 people including children with moderate to severe hearing loss benefitted from free hearing aids and more than 35 ear surgeries were done for treatment of chronic ear discharge at no cost for the patients.
Objectives of the Ramadan Hearing Support Program:
1. Provide Specialized Care to the Underserved: Offer surgical interventions and hearing aids to individuals with hearing disabilities who lack the resources for treatment.
2. Raise Awareness on Hearing Health: Educate the community on the importance of hearing health, early intervention, and ways to prevent hearing loss.
3. Promote Inclusivity and Accessibility: Ensure that hearing-impaired individuals, regardless of socio-economic status, can access the support needed to improve their quality of life.
Key Program Highlights:
1. Free Surgical Interventions:
Over the 3-day camp, SHEF partnered with skilled ENT surgeons to perform surgical procedures for individuals with severe hearing loss that could be corrected or improved through surgical intervention.
These surgeries aimed to restore or enhance hearing in patients, thereby improving their communication abilities and overall quality of life.
Surgeries were performed free of charge for selected patients, many of whom had struggled with hearing disabilities for years without hope of treatment due to financial constraints.
2. Distribution of Free Hearing Aids:
The program provided free hearing aids to eligible participants who could not afford these devices.
Each recipient was carefully fitted with a device suited to their level of hearing loss, ensuring comfort and effectiveness.
Audiologists conducted individual counseling sessions, teaching recipients how to use and maintain their hearing aids for long-term benefit.
3. Patient Selection from Multiple States:
In an effort to support hearing-impaired individuals beyond local boundaries, patients from Kano, Katsina, and Lagos were carefully selected based on medical need and financial limitations.
By expanding the program to include participants from various regions, SHEF demonstrated its commitment to serving a wide demographic and addressing hearing health disparities across Nigeria.
4. Community Education and Awareness:
During the camp, SHEF staff and volunteers conducted awareness sessions for participants and their families on hearing health, prevention of hearing loss, and the importance of early intervention.
Educational materials were distributed, with information on ear hygiene practices, the risks of untreated ear infections, and tips on managing hearing aids.
The Ramadan Hearing Support Program was a testament to SHEF’s dedication to bridging the gap in hearing care for the less privileged. By offering free surgical interventions and hearing aids, SHEF significantly impacted the lives of over 100 Nigerians, restoring their hearing and confidence. The success of this initiative reinforces the foundation’s commitment to accessible hearing care and its belief that every individual deserves the gift of hearing.
