Nigeria marks World Hearing Day 2026, reaffirms commitment to child hearing care
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to expanding access to hearing care for children as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Hearing Day 2026.
In a statement issued by the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Ministry said this year’s theme, “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for Every Child,” highlights the importance of linking community awareness with school-based health interventions to ensure early detection and treatment of hearing challenges among children.
The Minister noted that hearing is essential for communication, learning and social integration, particularly in childhood when cognitive and language development are most critical. Globally, more than 34 million children are living with disabling hearing loss, with a significant proportion residing in low- and middle-income countries.
According to the statement, preventable causes such as untreated ear infections, excessive noise exposure, maternal infections during pregnancy and inadequate early screening services continue to contribute to childhood hearing impairment in Nigeria.
It added that up to 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss is preventable through timely interventions, including vaccination, early diagnosis and proper ear care.
To strengthen coordination of hearing health services, the Federal Government has expanded the mandate of the National Eye Health Programme to include ear and sensory health.
The programme, now renamed the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Health Functions Programme, is expected to enhance nationwide implementation of hearing care initiatives.
