From EZE CHIMERE, UMUAHIA
Abia State government, in conjunction with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, will distribute 1,000 hearing aids to people with hearing impairments.
The distribution of the hearing aids will take place on April 2 when the state government, through the Ministry of Health, will launch a state-wide medical outreach to be flagged-off by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu told newsmen during a media briefing at the Government House on Monday at the end of the State Executive Council weekly meeting that the distribution of the hearing aids is a partnership between the state and Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation through the sound intervention hearing mission 2025 programme christened ‘So Nigerians May Hear.’
“This laudable programme will afford about 1, 000 Abians with hearing impairments the opportunity to receive hearing aids that will definitely improve their hearing faculties and life generally,” Kanu said.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche said the Foundation has been distributing hearing aids to Nigerians, but they chose to come to Abia this year.
“The Ministry of Health is partnering Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation. Already, it has donated over 10, 000 hearing aids free of charge to Nigerians and it is gratifying that they chose Abia State among other competing states.
“Those with hearing impairments should make use of the opportunity to receive attention. The Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, and Abia Specialist Hospital, Aba Road, Umuahia, are venues where beneficiaries are to be registered to undergo the necessary tests in the course of the outreach.
“For those in Aba, they should go to ABSUTH, while those in Abia North are to go Ohafia or Isuikwuato. Where general hospitals may be far away, people should go to any primary or secondary healthcare centre to enquire and be guided aright. Hearing aids will be distributed free of charge,” Professor. Uche stated.
According to the government officials, those wishing to benefit from the hearing aids distribution should pre-register in the designated health institutions or government health facilities near them before the event.
