This means, in effect, that children will have the opportunity of being checked quite early in order to receive timely support from health professionals and their parents.

Speaking at the inauguration of the programme's pilot scheme in Lagos on 24 June, the Health Minister, Professor Eyitayo Lambo said:

"I am happy to report that as a first step, our revised national health policy has provided for early detection and timely intervention for childhood hearing loss as one of its key child health objectives. The purpose of this provision is to give official endorsement to infant hearing screening as a measure of best practice in child healthcare in Nigeria within the framework of the 1995 WHO resolution on the prevention of hearing impairment.

"This administration has a compelling obligation to ensure that the vast majority of children who will survive are offered every chance to achieve their full potential.

"Permanent hearing loss is recognised worldwide as the commonest childhood disability and one of the most neglected because of its invisible nature. It is sad to report that about 8.7 million children under the age of 18 years in Nigeria are hearing-impaired. In fact, of the 4.8 million babies born yearly, an estimated 27,000 babies are likely to be hearing-impaired."

With the launch of this programme, Nigeria has identified with the plight of children who have been disillusioned on account of disabilities that have prevented them from participating actively in nation building.

The country has also joined the league of developed nations who already have this programme.

Various government dignitaries, specialists from the healthcare sector and non-governmental organisations attended the inauguration ceremony.

From AllAfrica.com