Visionary Reports

 Cochlear Implantation to treat deafness  

People suffering from hearing impairment can now have their hearing restored at the Douala General Hospital. The cochlear implant can now be done at the  Douala General Hospital thanks  ALDAC and the expertise of Professor Abdelaziz  Raji (Head ENT-HNS department Mohammed VI University Marrakech Morocco ) who have been in Cameroon to transfer his expertise to the  the Cameroonian team. The cochlear implant is an electronic device that partially restores hearing. It can be an option for people who have severe hearing loss from inner-ear damage who are no longer helped by using hearing aids. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, a cochlear implant bypasses damaged portions of the ear to deliver sound signals to the hearing (auditory) nerve.

 According to Professor Abdelaziz Raji, the surgery for the Cochlear implant can be done on both adults and children. He added that it is an intervention meant to repair hearing. He sounded off that all the 9 cases that have been carried in the Douala General hospital have been successful and patients hearing have been repaired. He said after the implantation a child can receive hearing and other communication skills which will permit the child to go to school and study like any other child. He reiterated that he is in Cameroon to enable the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist to develop skills in carrying out a successful cochlear implantation.

Professor Abdelaziz Raji will be in Cameroon to transfer his expertise until the ENT specialized in Cameroon become autonomous.  

The ENT team leader at the Douala General Hospital, Dr Kuifo Cedric explained that cochlear implantation surgery gives the possibility for the patient to get their hearing restored. “We put a device in the ear that will replace the cochlear which is the inner ear. After one month we activate the device that will permit the patient to hear well” Dr Kuifo Cedric explained.

 He called on people with hearing deficiency to come to the hospital for the cochlear implantation. Dr. Kuifo Cedric remained positive that after the knowledge gained they will be able to carry out the surgery hitch free. He said it was necessary for their capacity to be upgraded in the cochlear implantation surgery. He sounded off the Douala   General Hospital has the necessary medical requirements to carry out the surgery.

 It is worth mentioning that the Cochlear implant is free but patients have to pay for the surgery only, this is thanks  to the sponsorship of  the Association For The Fight Against Hearing Deficiency In Cameroon Known by it French acronym as ALDAC. According to Dr Serge Tankeng member of ALDAC they have taken upon themselves to source for funding for the treatment of deafness in Cameroon. He said after they discovered that treatment for hearing impairment was not available in Cameroon they decided to look for the expert to give them the expertise. To him, their goal was to treat as many people as possible and to reduce the burden on families in Cameroon who have people suffering from hearing Impairment.

GINA ESONG