title: Paediatric cochlear implantation in north-western Nigeria case report and review of our challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the commencement of cochlear implantation (CI) in children in Northern Nigeria and review the challenges encountered with a view to establishing CI programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two children with post-meningitic sensorineural hearing loss had standard pre-implantation assessment and cochlear implantation surgery in Nigeria in conjunction with surgeons from another developing country. Post-implantation meningitis was encountered and managed in one of the patients. Post-CI rehabilitation started in a foreign country and continued in our centre after training of our speech therapist. Both patients had improvement in their hearing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These showcase successful CI in patients from Sub-Saharan Africa, the challenges included need for development of surgical and post-CI rehabilitation personnel and affordability of the cost of the implant. The support of all the stakeholders needed for commencement of a CI programme was noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.affiliation: Department of paediatrics Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Abdulmajid
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, General Hospital, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.affiliation: ENT Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Afolabi
authors.affiliation: Dip AVT Speech Therapy Unit, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Leko H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Yakubu
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist, National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nathal
authors.affiliation: National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Electronic address: akeemlasisi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Lasisi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Challenges; Children; Cochlear implantation; Developing country; Meningitis