The World Hearing Day took an emotional turn as women living with hearing impairment in Niger State appealed to men who are looking for life partners, to seek their hands in marriage, explaining that the condition will not prevent them from building a healthy family.
Penpushing reports that the leader of the group Salamatu Hammed who spoke on behalf of members during the celebration held on Sunday in Minna, declared that they are marriage materials like any other woman.
The group leader urged men not to neglect deaf women, and therefore called on all eligible men to feel free to approach any deaf woman for marriage, emphasizing that they are like any other woman who gives birth to normal children
Penpushing also reports that Hammed used the occasion in calling on all tiers of government to employ interpreters at all public health institutions in the state to enable people with hearing problems to have access to quality health care.
‘We are marriage materials like any other woman. We are like any other woman who gives birth to normal children. I was not born as a deaf child, but I started having problems after an operation during delivery which affected my voice. I can hear but lost my voice as a result of the operation carried out on me to bring out my baby’, she stated
Penpushing reports that the leader of the group expatiated that none of her children has a hearing problem, confirming that those women with hearing impairment can still give birth to normal children.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, in the State Ministry of Health and Hospital Services, Dr Sidi Maku in his presentation at the events lamented the neglect of persons with hearing challenges in the country.
Penpushing further reports that Maku who is an expert on audiology pointed out that people with hearing impairment are few, but neglected, praying to God to grant succour to those with the problem.
“You may not appreciate until you see someone who cannot hear, so that is why we are here to celebrate it. The deaf may not know anything happening around them’, the permanent secretary emphasised.
Penpushing also reports that the audiology expert warned that hearing impairment can be caused by listening to loud music or slapping toddlers on their ears, as well as using feathers, cotton board to clean ears
“Using feathers, cotton board to clean the ears can also lead to the defect. Hereditary from parents is also a cause. It is possible for deaf parents to beget children without hearing problems’, the ministry boss added.
Penpushing reports that Maku, a former commissioner for health in the state, disclosed that the state has only three active audiologists for its Ear Nose Throat ( ENT) clinic, adding that all three surgeons are based in the state capital.
The Permanent Secretary revealed that over 270 million people suffer from hearing impairment globally as a result of neglect, and that Nigeria has only 176 Ear Nose Throat ( ENT) surgeons, adding that the entire Northern Nigeria has one Ear Nose Throat ( ENT) clinic, while the other three centres are in Enugu, Aba and Kaduna.
Penpushing further reports that Maku decried the inadequate health personnel in the sector and appealed for donations from corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to assist persons with hearing problems.
The Permanent Secretary at the event put together by the Women Advocate for Gender Solutions and Mentorship (WAGS-M), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) tagged “Changing Mindsets, Let’s Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All’, said to purchase a hearing aid before was N300,000 and now cost about N30 million for a complete hearing aid for one person.
Penpushing also reports that highlight of the event was a free screening exercise was conducted for Ear Nose Throat (ENT) patients while free drugs were distributed to them courtesy of the organizers at the venue
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