Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening ear, nose, and throat (ENT) healthcare services across Nigeria, pledging action to tackle hearing loss and medical brain drain in the sector.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima said the Tinubu administration was determined to address key challenges facing ENT services, including poor infrastructure, lack of equipment, and shortage of specialist personnel.
“A large number of our citizens suffer from hearing-related conditions, yet many do not seek help due to social stigma. We must go beyond cosmetic interventions. The government is committed to lasting solutions,” the Vice President stated.
He warned of a worsening shortfall in ENT professionals, noting that the number of trained surgeons may not even reach 500 nationwide if urgent steps are not taken. He also decried the increasing emigration of young doctors and assured stakeholders of ongoing efforts to create an enabling environment for medical professionals.
“The problem is not just about equipment. If we buy devices without skilled professionals to operate them, we achieve nothing. Training, welfare, and retention are just as critical,” Shettima said, encouraging ORLSON to sustain its efforts in grooming new specialists.
In appreciation of his support, ORLSON conferred the Vice President with the honorary title of Ambassador of the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria.
Earlier, ORLSON President, Prof. Aliyu Kodiya, raised concerns about the global and national burden of hearing loss. He cited World Health Organisation (WHO) projections that by 2050, about 2.5 billion people could be living with some level of hearing impairment, with over 700 million requiring rehabilitation.
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Prof. Kodiya described hearing loss as a growing public health crisis, costing the world economy over $1 trillion annually through reduced productivity, healthcare expenses, and social exclusion.
He also lamented that Nigeria’s National Policy and Strategic Plan for Ear and Hearing Care (2019–2023) expired without full implementation, describing it as a missed opportunity to establish a sustainable hearing health framework.
He reaffirmed ORLSON’s commitment to partnering with government, the private sector, and international bodies to expand access to quality ENT care and reduce the burden of hearing loss in Nigeria.
