The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce routine hearing checks in primary schools and expand newborn hearing screening across the country to enable early detection of hearing challenges and promote inclusive, hearing-friendly classrooms.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, disclosed this in a message to commemorate World Hearing Day 2026 in Abuja.
Salako noted that hearing is fundamental to communication, learning and social integration, stressing that it plays a vital role in children’s cognitive development, academic success and emotional well-being.
According to findings from the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, hearing loss affects about 90 million children and adolescents aged between five and 19 years globally. However, the condition often goes undetected, particularly in low-resource settings.
The organisation further revealed that more than 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss is preventable through simple and cost-effective public health interventions. It emphasised that early identification and proper care are essential to preventing long-term effects on a child’s development, education and future opportunities.
The theme for this year’s observance, “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for All Children,” underscores the importance of preventing avoidable childhood hearing loss and ensuring early detection and care for children with ear or hearing challenges.
Salako explained that in Nigeria, preventable causes such as untreated ear infections, exposure to excessive noise, maternal infections during pregnancy and limited early screening services continue to contribute significantly to childhood hearing impairment.
He warned that when hearing loss is not addressed early, it can result in delayed speech development, poor academic performance and long-term socio-economic difficulties. According to him, up to 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss could be prevented through timely interventions such as vaccination, early detection and proper ear care.
The minister also revealed that the Federal Government has expanded the mandate of the National Eye Health Programmeto coordinate ear, hearing and other sensory health activities. The programme will now operate under a new name — the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Health Functions Programme.
He said the development would strengthen national coordination and demonstrate the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of hearing loss across the country.
To ensure effective nationwide implementation, Salako added that Eye Health Desk Officers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have had their mandates expanded to include hearing health. The ministry is also developing governance structures, policies and national guidelines aimed at institutionalising hearing and sensory health services within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
