The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has reportedly performed its inaugural Cochlear Implant Surgery today, Wednesday 21st June, 2023.
This, according to the reports seen by the K47 news team, makes MTRH the first public hospital to undertake the specialist surgery in East and Central African region.
The surgery, which reportedly took 2 hours, was on a young lady who was diagnosed with POST-LINGUAL SENSORINEURIAL HEARING LOSS. It went on successfully.
The team included Dr. Menach Owen, an ENT/ Otolaryngologist at MTRH, and Professor Badr Eldin Mostafa from Ain Shams University, Egypt assisted by Dr. Rotich Gerald, Scrub Nurses Francis Koskei and Fridah Kotut, and Audiologist Angela Kiragu.
The Anesthesia Team led by Dr. Kimani Mbugua, Dr. Solomon Mwau and Mr. Henry Kemei.
Cochlear implant surgery is a procedure that helps individuals with severe hearing loss regain their ability to hear thereby improving quality of life.
The surgery is said to be typically performed under general anaesthesia, and a small incision is made behind the ear to access the Cochlear.
This surgery, reports says, can be performed on pre-lingual; children below three (3) years who have not developed hearing and speech and post-lingual; older children and adults who have developed hearing and speech but lost hearing.
Cochlear surgery will significantly improve the hearing and quality of life for people with severe hearing loss. After surgery these patients are able to contribute their full potential towards the Society.
