Victoria Mgbanwa
It’s heartening to see such a significant number of people registering for free hearing aids to celebrate Obasanjo’s birthday.
The Special Assistant on Media to former President Olusegun Obasanjo Mr Kehinde Akinyemi revealed that 2000 individuals benefitted from the program.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Olalekan Makinde, in his speech urged the federal government to make the well-being of her citizens, particularly people with impaired hearing in Nigeria a priority following the high cost and accessibility of hearing aids.
He said, “The 2000 figure recorded so far in the first day of the exercise indicated that the government needs to as a matter of urgency come to rescue those in need of hearing aids, as the number of those affected goes higher every year.
“The hearing aids are also not easily accessible and are very expensive, but the foundation, in collaboration with her partners, will be giving out no fewer than 2000 hearing aids to people for free.”
He further applauded the former President for his immense support for the Foundation and In getting the requirements to achieve the exercise, adding that the program apart from commemorating the World Hearing Day, will be continued to ensure that the 2000 target was meant by Tuesday.
The founder, of Ear Care Foundation for Africa/Asia, Aderinola Olopade also Appealed to policymakers to prioritize access to newborn hearing screening programmes.
The exercise, conducted by Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, was done to commemorate the 87th birthday anniversary of the Chief Promoter of the Foundation, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the year 2024 World Hearing Day, which took place on Sunday, worldwide.
