The Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), has launched a specialised cochlear implant and hearing-rehabilitation programme at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The event, according to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria, marked a major humanitarian intervention aimed at treating severe hearing loss among Nigerian children.
The programme, which was implemented in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities, targeted 30 cochlear implant surgeries primarily for children, with the goal of restoring their hearing and enabling their full integration into society.
"The programme offers a complete chain of care, including diagnosis, surgery, follow-up, auditory therapy, and speech rehabilitation, representing a life-changing step for beneficiaries and their families," the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria said.
Speaking during the commencement of the initiative in Abuja, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria, Mr. Saad bin Fahd Al-Marri, commended the collaboration and underscored the humanitarian value of the project. He said:
"This programme reflects the Kingdom's dedication to supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening health systems in friendly nations. Through KSRelief, we are committed to delivering tangible solutions that restore hope, transform lives, and deepen the long-standing partnership between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria," he said.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria further said the cochlear implant initiative built on KSRelief's continued humanitarian presence in Nigeria and across the African continent, where the Centre actively supported medical interventions, disease-control programmes, and relief efforts for communities affected by crises.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, mother of Feyikunmi Olanipekun, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Oluchi Olanipekun, said the gesture was a dream realised.