By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
30 hearing impaired persons in Kaduna have received hearing aid devices from the 3rd cohort alumni of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF), otherwise known as “Alpha Cohort”.
The Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship Alumni is an association made up of Fellows from the past three cohorts of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship Programme. These are; Tarayya (1st cohort), Tambari (2nd cohort), and Alpha Cohorts (3rd cohort).
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Lucia Adewunmi, who expressed joy in commending her benefactors, said she never expected that she could ever hear with her left ear again.
“I couldn’t hear anything from my left ear, if they are talking to me, I hardly understand because of the defect. But now I can hear very well.
“I really appreciate the kind gesture done to us by the KIF, because I never expected in my life that I will ever get this hearing aid to support my hearing. I learnt the devices are very expensive and I know that I can’t afford.” Mrs. Lucia said.
She prayed God to bless and replenish them for helping all the beneficiaries to get their hearing back on track.
The Alpha Cohort, had embarked on an Ear Outreach in Badikko community during their Community Service Week, where they provided basic ear care for over 200 people within the community and environs.
Addressing the beneficiaries on how to maintain the devices, Head of Department, Audiology, National Ear Care
Centre, Kaduna, Dr. Bashir Mohammed, said they are just like every other electronic devices.
“Don’t allow them to drop on the floor, don’t allow water to get into them. They are battery operated devices, so once the batteries are down it would signal it to you which means you to obtain new batteries.
“If you notice anything unusual like peeping sounds, you need to bring them here for us to check. If we identify any problem that can be fixed, we fix them, otherwise the device may need replacement.” He cautioned.
On the importance of what the Alpha Cohort had done, Dr. Bashir, said “this is really significant because we know that the numbers of hearing impaired people is very high among the population and the WHO has be campaigning towards screening for hearing loss among the population.
“Usually where the problem lies is, after the screening and you identified those with hearing lost and we tell them what they require to rehabilitate them and because of the issue of funds, those individuals finds it very difficult to acquire the devices.
“For KIF to think of this idea of getting those devices for them for free, is something worth commendation, because they are quite expensive. Each device is worth nothing less than #160,000 to #200,000 and some of those patients have two fitted for them, so see it’s really worth commendation.”
In her remarks, a member of KIF Alpha Cohort, Zaliha Lawal, disclosed that the Alumni with support from Ronchess Global Resources Plc, Ear Care Foundation and National Ear Care Centre in 2021 embarked on an ear care campaign in Badikko community, where 200 people benefited from basic ear care.
She said after further diagnosis, 30 were detected to have acute hearing deficiency, adding that “today we are able to provide hearing aids, ear moulds, batteries and free post services for the beneficiaries.
“All these are achievable with the support of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, Ear Care Centre and National Ear Care Centre.”
Zaliha, on behalf of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows, also use the medium to thank Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Kaduna State Government for initiating the fellowship, which according to her is a platform for young Nigerians to learn first-hand about leadership and government at the subnational level.
KIF Alumni objective includes: encourage, foster, and promote close relations among the alumni.
Promote a sustained sense of belonging, exchange ideas on academics, cultural and social issues. Organize activities on burning issues of good governance, economy, politics, and societal issues in Nigeria and Africa. Provide networking and mentorship opportunities across cohorts and support the activities of current and future cohorts of the Fellowship.
