By Maureen Okon
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) has inaugurated a specialised cochlear implant and hearing-rehabilitation programme in Abuja.
The intervention is expected to target about 30 cochler implant surgeries, primarily for children with the goal of restoring their hearing and to enable their full integration into the society.
The initiative marked Saudi’s government’s major humanitarian intervention aimed at treating severe hearing loss among Nigerian children.
It is implemented in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities for beneficiaries and their families, and the surgeries are performed in the National Hospital Abuja.
The programme offers a complete chain of care, including diagnosis, surgery, follow-up, auditory therapy, and speech rehabilitation, representing a life-changing step for beneficiaries and their families.
Mr Saad Al-Marri, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria, commended the collaboration while underscoring the humanitarian value of the project.
“This programme reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening health systems in friendly nations.
“Through KSRelief, we are committed to delivering tangible solutions that restore hope, transform lives, and deepen the long-standing partnership between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria,” he said.
He said that the cochlear implant initiative built on KSRelief’s continued humanitarian presence in Nigeria and across the African continent.
“The centre actively supports medical interventions, disease-control programmes and relief efforts for communities affected by crises across the African continent,” he said.
He said that the programme further reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
NAN reports that cochlear refers to a spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that is crucial for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
