60% Of Childhood Hearing Loss Preventable – Minister

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq  Salako, has said up to 60 per cent  of childhood hearing loss is preventable through timely interventions including vaccination, early detection and proper ear care.

The minister, who stated this on Tuesday in commemoration of the 2026 World Hearing Day, warned that preventable causes such as untreated ear infections, excessive noise exposure, maternal infections during pregnancy and a lack of early screening services continue to drive childhood hearing impairment in the country.

He noted that when left unaddressed, hearing loss can lead to delayed speech development, poor educational performance, and long-term socio-economic challenges.

The commemoration, themed “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for Every Child,” aligns with the global campaign led annually by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness about hearing health.

In a major policy shift, Dr. Salako announced that the dederal government has expanded the mandate of the National Eye Health Programme to coordinate ear, hearing, and other sensory health services. The programme will now be known as the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Health Functions Programme, a step he said reflects the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of hearing loss nationwide.

To support implementation, he said Eye Health Desk Officers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been assigned expanded responsibilities to include hearing and sensory health.

The Ministry is also developing national guidelines, governance structures, and policies to embed hearing care into Nigeria’s health system, Dr. Salako added.

The minister stressed that early intervention begins at home and in communities. He urged parents, caregivers, and primary healthcare workers to watch for warning signs such as delayed response to sound, frequent ear pain, or speech delays and seek prompt medical attention.

Recognising the critical role of schools, the minister explained that the government is expanding newborn hearing screening and introducing routine hearing checks in primary schools.