Nigeria on Tuesday commemorated World Hearing Day 2026 with a major policy shift, as the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the expansion of the National Eye Health Programme to cover ear and sensory health functions.
The commemoration, marked every March 3 as an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), is aimed at raising awareness on the importance of hearing health and preventing hearing loss. This year’s theme, “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for Every Child,” underscores the need to connect community awareness with school-based interventions to ensure inclusive access to hearing care for Nigerian children.
Globally, more than 34 million children are living with disabling hearing loss, with low- and middle-income countries bearing a disproportionate burden. In Nigeria, health authorities say preventable causes such as untreated ear infections, excessive noise exposure, maternal infections during pregnancy and limited early screening services continue to drive childhood hearing impairment.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, in a statement issued on Tuesday, warned that unaddressed hearing loss could result in delayed speech development, poor academic performance and long-term socio-economic challenges.
He noted that up to 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss is preventable through timely interventions, including vaccination, early detection and proper ear care.
In a significant policy move aligned with WHO recommendations, Dr. Salako announced that the Federal Government has expanded the mandate of the National Eye Health Programme to coordinate ear, hearing and other sensory health activities.
“The programme is now known as the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Health Functions Programme. This expansion strengthens national coordination and reflects the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of hearing loss across Nigeria,” he stated.
To ensure effective nationwide implementation, Eye Health Desk Officers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have had their mandates broadened to include hearing health. The Ministry is also developing governance structures, policies and national guidelines to institutionalise hearing and sensory health within the country’s health system.
The Minister emphasised that effective hearing care must begin at the community level, urging parents, caregivers and primary healthcare workers to recognise early warning signs such as delayed response to sound, frequent ear pain and speech delays, and to seek prompt medical attention.
He further disclosed that the government is committed to expanding newborn hearing screening, introducing routine hearing checks in primary schools, training teachers to detect early signs of hearing challenges and promoting inclusive, hearing-friendly classrooms.
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Dr. Salako called on parents, educators, healthcare providers, development partners, civil society organisations and the media to collaborate in safeguarding children’s hearing, stressing that simple preventive measures could avert most cases of childhood hearing loss.
“The Federal Government envisions a Nigeria where every child can hear clearly — from the vibrant sounds of their communities to the lessons in their classrooms, and remains committed to ensuring hearing care for every child,” he said.
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