VP Shettima Slams ENT Crisis in Nigeria, Vows Government Action

VP Shettima Slams ENT Crisis in Nigeria, Vows Government Action

Vice President Kashim Shettima has sent a strong message that the Federal Government is not turning a blind eye to the growing crisis in Nigeria’s ENT (ear, nose, and throat) healthcare system.

During a visit from the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima admitted that the sector is in serious trouble and pledged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to fix it.

“We are not here to put a plaster on a gunshot wound,” he said bluntly. “We know what’s going wrong, and we are ready to face it head-on.”

According to Shettima, Nigeria is facing a sharp rise in hearing problems. But worse still, he said the country has very few trained doctors who can handle these cases. He estimates there may not even be 500 ENT specialists in the entire country, and even those are leaving for better opportunities abroad.

“Let’s be real. We are bleeding professionals,” Shettima said. “If we don’t act fast, the situation will only get worse. Our people will suffer more, and the gap in access to proper healthcare will grow wider.”

The Vice President revealed that President Tinubu had already directed his health advisers to work on improving ENT infrastructure and training. He added that the government wants to do more than just buy new machines — they want to make sure Nigeria has trained experts to use the equipment and care for the people.

“You can buy ten machines, but if no one can use them, what’s the point?” Shettima asked. “This is why we are focusing on training, welfare, and the retention of doctors. We need these brilliant minds to stay in Nigeria.”

He also addressed another sensitive issue — the stigma surrounding hearing loss. Many Nigerians, he said, suffer in silence because they’re afraid of what others might think.

“Too many of our people hide their condition. They live with pain, shame, and silence because society makes them feel less,” Shettima said. “We need to change this narrative. Healthcare should be a right, not a secret.”

The meeting was more than just a talk. ORLSON’s President, Dr. Aliyu Mohammed Kodiya, presented Shettima with a title — Ambassador of the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria — as a sign of gratitude for his commitment to the cause.

Dr. Kodiya didn’t mince words either. He warned that hearing loss is not just a medical issue; it’s a global health crisis in the making.

“The World Health Organization says by 2050, over 2.5 billion people will suffer some form of hearing loss,” he said. “And more than 700 million will need rehab services. That’s a huge number. It affects not just health, but the economy, too.”

He cited a staggering figure — $1 trillion lost globally every year due to untreated hearing problems. The cost comes from lower work productivity, increased healthcare expenses, and people being excluded from society.

In Nigeria, Kodiya said, the numbers are no better. Even though the National Policy and Strategic Plan for Ear and Hearing Care was launched in 2019, it expired in 2023 without being fully put into action.

“That was a big missed opportunity,” he said. “We could have built a stronger system to detect and treat hearing issues early. But we’re not giving up.”

ORLSON says it is still ready to work with the government, private companies, and international partners to push ahead with reforms.

“Our doctors are ready. Our plans are ready. We just need real support,” Kodiya said.

Vice President Shettima responded positively, saying the administration is looking at long-term fixes. “We want to build lasting solutions. We’re not just interested in short-term wins that look good on paper.”

He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, saying the government can’t do it alone. “If we want to make real changes, we need to work with everyone — NGOs, tech companies, foreign donors, and the ENT community,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also hinted at upcoming changes in the medical education system, saying more funds and support will go to universities and teaching hospitals that offer ENT programs.

“Our young people want to learn. Let’s give them the tools and reasons to stay,” he said.

He promised that President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” will place healthcare reform at the centre of national development.

“It’s not just about healing ears. It’s about hearing the cry of our people and responding with action,” he said.

Several members of the ORLSON delegation nodded in agreement as Shettima spoke. Many had spent years in underfunded hospitals with broken tools, watching patients suffer from conditions that are preventable with early diagnosis.

Dr. Kodiya said ENT challenges affect people from every age group, but are especially devastating for children.

“If a child can’t hear well, they can’t speak clearly. If they can’t speak clearly, they struggle in school. And the cycle of poverty continues,” he said.

He added that more outreach programs are needed in rural communities where healthcare access is almost zero.

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“There are towns in this country where you won’t find a single ENT doctor. People there live and die with problems we can treat easily in the cities,” Kodiya lamented.

The Federal Government’s commitment, if backed by action, could change this picture.

Shettima mentioned that pilot programs will soon be launched in partnership with ORLSON and other stakeholders to test new models for community-level ENT care. These include mobile clinics, telemedicine consultations, and community sensitization programs.

He emphasized the importance of health data in designing policies that work. “We can’t keep flying blind. We need better records, better research, and better planning,” Shettima said.

In closing, the Vice President said the government is in talks with partners in Europe and Asia to help Nigeria access ENT equipment and training opportunities for doctors.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Let’s learn from countries that have already built strong ENT systems,” he said.

The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to set up a working group that will fast-track implementation of key reforms.

As it stands, Nigeria’s ENT crisis is no longer under the radar. With voices like Shettima’s speaking up, there is hope that action will finally match the promises.

It remains to be seen how fast these changes will come, but one thing is clear — the alarm bells are ringing loud, and this time, the government says it’s listening.