Sannu! Hello! Our Hearing Help for Africa team has returned from Nigeria and are excited to share some experiences from our trip. We spent a week and a half in Jos, Nigeria working in the clinic and visiting various missions.
In clinic, our team saw many different ear-related disorders, performed basic procedures like ear cleanings and tube placements, evaluated hearing loss, fitted hearing aids and programmed cochlear implants, performed several ear-related surgeries, and lectured medical students/residents in ear-related disorders and treatment. In total, we fit nearly 100 patients with hearing aids over the course of the week. We completed one cochlear implant activation—the patient is hearing speech better already! Dr. Green and two other surgeons taught a temporal bone course to medical residents from across Africa in which they learned temporal bone anatomy and surgical techniques.
We visited several orphanages, women’s centers, and a men’s ministry while on our missions. At many of these locations, we performed ear cleanings and hearing tests while providing education on ear health. We played games, sang songs, and shared sweet treats with the kids and provided words of encouragement for the adults facing various obstacles. Our team loved spending time with the people of Nigeria and exploring the beautiful countryside. One of the many sites seen were goats being transported on motorcycles, tucked tightly between the driver and passenger in the rear. We enjoyed the native dishes and even got a taste of local street food. Our team tried their hand at learning the local language, Hausa.
It was bittersweet leaving Nigeria and the connections we made. We look forward to working with our patients remotely until we are able to return next year. If you would like to support our mission, please visit hearinghelpforafrica.net or reach out to our office directly.
