The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) has called for the inclusion of Hearing Screening Services in the country’s primary health care programme.
This was highlighted in a communiqué issued at the end of their 32nd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, tagged “ORLSON KADUNA 2024,” with the theme “Advancing ORL Care in Nigeria: Innovation, Integration, and Impact.”
The communiqué was signed by Professor Kufre Robert Iseh and Dr. Enema Job Amodu, President and Secretary, respectively.
Oto-rhino-laryngological refers to the medical field specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT).
The society emphasized the need for improved capacity building across all cadres of ORL practice to advance ORL care in Nigeria.
“It is necessary to integrate technology into ORL care through the use of high-tech diagnostic devices and surgical equipment. ORL care, especially hearing screening, should be integrated into the primary health care programme,” the communiqué reads.
“There is a need to pool resources to establish Centres of Excellence for ORL care and training in Nigeria. Intra- and inter-specialty cooperation, as well as international collaborations, are encouraged among ORL surgeons to foster excellence in practice,” it added.
The society further stated that ORLSON encourages the Kaduna State government, as well as other states, to commence residency training in ORL in their tertiary health institutions.
They also expressed appreciation to the Kaduna State Government, the Zazzau Emirate, the management of the National Ear Care Centre Kaduna, and the event sponsors for their contributions in making the conference a success.
The communiqué mentioned that the event commenced with a pre-conference temporal bone dissection course for resident doctors and consultants at the Temporal Bone Dissection Unit of the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna (NECC), from November 18th-20th, 2024. This was followed by a medical outreach at the premises of the Emir of Zazzau’s palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, and a pre-conference live cochlear implant surgery at NECC Kaduna.
The AGM & Scientific Conference opening ceremony featured a keynote lecture on the theme by Prof. AD Salisu, chaired by Prof. Lawal Khalid, the former CMD of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. The event was also attended by the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, and the Emir of Zaria, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, among other dignitaries.
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