Contrary to what Nigerians were made to believe that President Mohammadu Buhari, only travelled to London in June, this year to rest, as well as see an Ear, Nose And Throat specialist (E.N.T) for a persistent ear infection, Total news can now report that the President had Cochlear Implant surgery in London.
A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain. The surgery usually lasts between three and four hours.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the president, had said in a statement that; “President Muhammadu Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London on Monday June 6th to rest. During the holiday, he will see an E.N.T. specialist for a persistent ear infection. The President was examined by his Personal Physician and an E.N.T Specialist in Abuja and was treated. Both Nigerian doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.”
However, it has been discovered that the President had more than mere ear infection.
Sources at the Presidency said ears of President Buhari were actually damaged beyond redemption and Cochlear Implant surgery had to be done.
Also, contrary to claim by Mallam Garba Shehu, the Spokesperson to President Buhari that the President spent about N20 million as medical expenses for his ear treatment, the cost of Cochlear Implant surgery in the United Kingdom is less than N10 million.
According to the Nottingham University Hospital, United Kingdom, the overall initial cost of implantation, including: the cochlear implant device, the surgery, medical check-up is approximately 36,000 Great Britain Pound (GBP) for children and approximately 20,000 GBP for adults. Additional costs in the first year for programming, assessments and rehabilitation are as follows: approximately 9,600 GBP for children and approximately 4,500 GBP for adults.
As at June this year that the President travelled to London for the surgery, official dollar exchange rate was N197. Assuming GBP exchange rate was N350 then, 25,000 GBP will be N8.75 million.
In medical parlance, Cochlear Implant surgery is a unique way of giving severe and profoundly deaf patients the chance to hear.
The implant bypasses a faulty hearing organ by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve. The nerve impulse is then transmitted to the brain, and hearing is restored. Cochlear implants are not the solution to every hearing problem, but they can drastically improve the quality of life for many people with hearing impairment.
