WOFAN, MasterCard Foundation begin hearing aid support for PWDs
The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation, has commenced screening of PWDs to benefit from its hearing aid support for 1,200 young Nigerians living with hearing impairment.
SolaceBase reports that the initiative, which is part of the WOFAN-ICON2 project, aims to identify and equip individuals with the necessary medical assistance, including hearing aids and counselling, to enhance their access to dignified work, particularly in agriculture.
Speaking during the maiden screening exercise on Tuesday in Abuja, the Country Director, WOFAN-ICON2 Project, Dr. Salamatu Garba, said that the organisation has engaged four Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) medical consultants and technicians from four geopolitical zones of the country. These professionals will be responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries in WOFAN’s project areas.
The Country Director, WOFAN-ICON2 Project, Dr. Salamatu Garba, speaking at the screening exercise in Abuja on Tuesday
“Today, we are conducting screenings, not just distributing hearing aids randomly. We need to identify those who are genuinely in need, assess the degree of their hearing loss, and determine the appropriate category of hearing aid required,” Dr. Garba explained.
“Some people may not even need hearing aids. Their condition might only require ear cleaning or minor surgery. That’s why we’re relying on expert consultants to properly diagnose and categorize each case,” she added.
“When we talk about disability, the focus is often on physical impairments. But hearing challenges also cause severe stigma and communication barriers that hinder people’s ability to participate in training, access information, or follow safety instructions,” she said.
On his part, the surgeon head of Audiology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Professor Abdulazeez Ahmed, praised the initiative and emphasized the urgent need to raise public awareness about hearing loss.
Professor Ahmed noted that hearing impairment is often an invisible disability. He also explained why some individuals with hearing impairments struggle to understand speech even when using hearing aids.
He stressed the difference between hearing sounds and making sense of them, saying, “You might hear a phone ring, yet be unable to follow a conversation. That’s because hearing sound and understanding speech are two different processes.” He noted that hearing aids amplify sound but do not automatically restore speech comprehension.
According to Professor Ahmed, individuals with pre-lingual hearing loss—those who became deaf before acquiring language—face greater challenges in understanding speech. “For people born with profound hearing loss, hearing aids may only create sound awareness, not meaningful speech,” he said.
However, he explained that people who lose their hearing after learning to speak, known as post-lingual hearing loss, often benefit more from hearing aids. He also pointed out that the quality of hearing aid technology plays a significant role in its effectiveness, adding, “Just like cars, there are basic models and more advanced ones—the more sophisticated the hearing aid, the better the performance.”
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Professor Ahmed emphasized the need for early diagnosis and public awareness to ensure better support for people with hearing impairments. “This is not just about medical intervention, it’s about giving people dignity, breaking stigma, and ensuring inclusion.”
In a remark, an ENT specialist, Dr. Manir Anka, praised the initiative and emphasized the urgent need to raise public awareness about hearing loss.
He called on other non-governmental organizations to follow WOFAN’s example in championing inclusive development.
He described hearing loss as a major but underfunded public health concern and commended WOFAN and the Mastercard Foundation for their partnership.
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Also speaking at the event, WOFAN’s Business Development Manager, Mr. Taiwo Olawale, said that the initial screening of 60 individuals in the North Central region will serve as a pilot phase. The program will then be scaled up to the North-East and North-West regions, including states such as Adamawa, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Kano.
Highlighting the significance of the project, WOFAN Gender Specialist and FCT Lead, Hajia Maryam Lawal, noted the strong link between hearing impairment and food security.
“Imagine how a deaf farmer is left out—unable to participate fully in training sessions, interpret safety instructions, or receive market information. These gaps directly affect productivity and national food security,” she stated.
Funded by the Mastercard Foundation, the WOFAN-ICON2 Project aims to support 675,000 youth, including 70% women, across nine Nigerian states over five years, as part of the Young Africa Works–Nigeria strategy (2021–2030), which seeks to secure dignified and fulfilling employment for 10 million youth.
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