Organization: Suleiman Hearing and Educational Foundation(SHEF)
Title: “Hear Early,Thrive fully”:SHEF World Hearing Day 2026 Initiative to Strengthen School Hearing Screening and Community Ear Care in North West Nigeria
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Hear early, thrive fully: SHEF World Hearing Day 2026 initiative to strengthen school hearing screening and community ear care in North West Nigeria
Description:
In commemoration of World Hearing Day 2026, the Suleiman Hearing and Educational Foundation (SHEF) will implement a multi-component awareness, screening, and primary ear care strengthening initiative in Kaduna, Katsina, Kano States and Kwara States , Nigeria.
The project aims to increase awareness of early childhood hearing screening, promote preventive ear care behaviors, and strengthen primary-level capacity for routine hearing checks and early detection of hearing lossHearing loss in children is often undetected until speech delay or academic difficulties become evident. In Nigeria, routine preschool and school-entry hearing screening is not systematically implemented, resulting in delayed diagnosis and preventable disability. Early detection through school-based screening and primary health care engagement is critical to improving language development, academic performance, and long-term quality of life. World Hearing Day provides a strategic opportunity to raise awareness, promote preventive behaviors, and strengthen service delivery systems through community engagement and primary health care support.
Project Goal:To promote early detection of hearing loss and strengthen community-level ear and hearing care through school-based screening, public awareness campaigns, and primary health care support in Kaduna, Katsina and Kano States Nigeria
Specific Objectives:1.Conduct school-based hearing screening for children aged 5–7 years in a selected private school in Kaduna State.
2. Increase awareness among teachers and parents about the importance of preschool and routine hearing screening.
3. Implement a state-level awareness campaign in Kano through a collaborative podcast on hearing loss prevention.
4. Provide technical support to three primary health care facilities and staff previously trained by SHEF in primary ear care ,two centers in Kano State and one center in Katsina state
5. Extend ear care awareness to neighboring schools through outreach education sessions which will be done by trained primary health workers and supervised by SHEF
Project Activities: Project 1 :School Hearing Screening in Kaduna State in Collaboration with local NGO
– Awareness session for teachers on early detection and referral pathways.
– Parent engagement session on speech milestones and preventive ear care.
– Free hearing screening for two selected classes (ages 5–7 years).
– Referral of children who fail screening.
Project 2:
Public Awareness Campaign – Kano State:
– Production and dissemination of a podcast on hearing screening and prevention.
– Dissemination via social media and community platforms.
Project 3:
Strengthening Primary Ear Care – Kano State and Katsina State
– Support supervision of trained PHC staff.
– Community awareness campaigns and free ear examination clinics.
– Outreach visits to neighboring schools for awareness talks
Project 4:
Project 1 :School Hearing Screening – Kano State in Collaboration with local NGO
– Awareness session for teachers on early detection and referral pathways.
– Parent engagement session on speech milestones and preventive ear care.
– Free hearing screening for two selected classes (ages 5–7 years).
– Referral of children who fail screening
Project 5:Sponsored Radio Awareness program on School Hearing Screening in Ilorin ,Kwara State Nigeria
Expected Output:- 60–100 children screened.
– Teachers trained in early identification of hearing difficulties.
– Parents sensitized on importance of early screening.
– 1 educational podcast produced and disseminated.
– 3 PHC facilities strengthened.
– At least 2 school outreach visits conducted
-Social media awareness campaign and dissemination of activities to the public
-More than 5000 people reach
Short and Long term Outcomes:Increased awareness of preschool hearing screening.
– Improved teacher recognition of hearing-related learning challenges.
– Increased early referrals for suspected hearing loss.
– Strengthened PHC engagement in ear and hearing care.
Long-Term Impact
Earlier detection of childhood hearing loss, reduced preventable educational delays, improved integration of ear and hearing care into primary health care, and strengthened community-based prevention culture.
Primary site: AFR – Nigeria
Region: AFR
General Photos
SHEF project in Katsina State Nigeria
SHEF meeting wit stakeholders in Kano State
Kano world Hearing day activities
Raising public Awareness on world report on Hearing
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations:
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: No