Nigerian, Egyptian surgeons perform cochlear implant surgeries in Kaduna

Specialist surgeons have successfully carried out cochlear implant surgeries on children with profound hearing loss at Jowako Specialist Hospital in Kaduna.

The procedures were led by Prof. Mohammed Garba Mainasara, consultant ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) and head and neck surgeon, together with Prof. Ahmed Mahanna, an otology and cochlear implantation expert from the Alexandria School of Medicine, Egypt.

Explaining the significance of the surgery, Prof. Mainasara said cochlear implantation is performed on patients with complete hearing loss, including babies as young as one year and adults who lost hearing through illness or medication.

He noted that the operation involves placing a device that bypasses damaged parts of the ear to stimulate the auditory nerve directly, allowing the brain to perceive sound. He added that early detection is critical, revealing that Jowako Hospital has begun newborn hearing screening to identify abnormalities and plan interventions early.

Prof. Mahanna, who pioneered cochlear implant surgery in Kaduna in 2020, described the device as life-changing. “Some patients born deaf now attend regular schools and have gone on to become professionals after successful implantation. This surgery is just the beginning—the next stage is speech and auditory rehabilitation, which helps children live normal lives like their peers,” he said.

He explained that the device used—Medical Electronics (MED-EL) from Austria—is expensive and usually paid for by patients in Nigeria. He therefore urged the federal government to subsidise the cost, as seen in countries like Tanzania and India.

“Some African countries pay for the device. The Nigerian government can do the same so that surgeons only focus on implantation,” Mahanna stressed.

Since 2020, the same team has successfully performed more than 30 cochlear implant surgeries in Kaduna.

Families of beneficiaries also appealed for government intervention, noting that the device costs over N35 million, placing it out of reach for many households.