REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PUBLIC LECTURE TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL EAR CARE DAY IN NATIONAL EAR CARE CENTRE, KADUNA – DR (CHIEF) MRS. ABISOLA CLARK

  • The Guest Lecturer
  • Management Board of NECC
  • Top Management Committee
  • Members of the Hearing Handicap Community
  • Representatives of Special Schools
  • Gentlemen of the Press
  • Ladies and Gentlemen

 

It gives me great pleasure to address you on the occasion of this public lecture to mark the WHO International Ear Care Day.

This day is set aside specially by the World Health Organization to promote hearing/ear health all over the world. This is hinged on the belief that proper care of this special organ is essential in curbing the spate of diseases that affect the ear and the resultant handicap.  In its bid to promote preventive health care, the WHO expects to draw attention to ear care by marking this day specially.

I would like to use this occasion to call attention to the hearing needs of the community in general but specifically to the needs of the hearing handicap community.

Deafness/hearing handicap is a hidden disability that does not receive as much attention like other more physical or noticeable disabilities.  Yet, hearing handicap constraints communication which is the live-wire of all human relations. The World Health Organization estimates that over 200 million people live with one form or the other of debilitating hearing loss and that 2/3 of these are in the developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. It is hoped that activities such as this will help raise awareness on this disability and call attention to action.

The national Ear Care Centre has the mandate of undertaking activities towards the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of hearing problems. It has long been championing the preventive aspects by raising public awareness in the form of public lectures.

Under my care, it is intended to widen this horizon. This informed this year’s activities in NECC including a 2-day hearing screening. This was directed at students of the special school in Kaduna since it is observed that pre-enrollment hearing screening is not routinely done. The preliminary result is quite revealing.

Such hearing screening is being planned for states and national levels even in the general population so as to put into correct perspective the burden of hearing handicap to serve as a basis for initiating positive action.

Today’s lecture based on the theme for this year is titled “Ear Care Can Avoid Hearing Loss”. It will be delivered by prof. B M Ahmad, an erudite scholar with interest in primary ear care. I urge us all to listen keenly so as to pick up useful tips on how to care for the ears.

Thank you.