A Deaf doctor, Dr Ijeoma Nnodim tells of her touching story, how she couldn’t afford hearing apparatus which are often expensive in Nigeria but was luckily spared the hassle by Olusegun Obasanjo through his foundation in partnership with Starkey Hearing Foundation with provided a set of hearing aids free of charge, INN reports.
Dr. Ijeoma, who is a Paediatric doctor says that the news surrounding Obasanjo’s letter to Buhari reminds her of Olusegun Obasanjo’s gesture towards her which has made her able to communicate meaningfully with her daughter, thanks to the Olusegun Obasanjo/Starkey foundation. Read her story below
She tells of her communicative relationship with those around her, especially her kids, she say “It was a sweltering afternoon and I had just picked up my children from school. While driving home the following conversation ensued between my 5year-old daughter, bambina, and I;
Bambina: Mummy I love Dominion very much.
Me: (Flabbergasted ) Is Dominion a girl or a boy?
Bambina: Dominion is a boy now
Me: (Warily) And why do you love him?
Bambina: Because he loves me too
Me: (With rising alarm) How do you show that you love each other?
Bambina: Whenever my teacher punishes me for being bad, he tells me sorry and I also tell him sorry when she punishes me.
Me: (Note to self; reinforce what you have told her about sex education)
“Now this exchange is not just about my daughter or about sex education. This is about me having a communicative conversation with my kid. I could hear what she was saying and give appropriate responses…”, she wrote on her Facebook page.
“If you know me or have read my story, you will know that I have severe-to-profound hearing loss and needed hearing aids. My previous hearing aid was faulty and I needed to either service it or buy a new one. She said.
“Hearing aids are expensive and can cost up to NGN 650,000 or more depending on the type.
Not two but one o. In other words, if someone had to buy two that would be 1.3million NGN(Naira). This far too much, not to talk of the cost of servicing and keeping the apparatus in good shape…I just had to let go…”
She said, “I stumbled on a post by Dr Gbemisola Boyede on a free hearing aid program by Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation. I said to myself ‘”Could this be true?, No harm in trying”‘
“The programme had outreaches in Ogun, Lagos, Abia, Kaduna and Kwara. I opted for the closest one which was at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia state.
Dr Ijeoma seated with other beneficiaries at the outreach in Abia State
I saw many people of various ages who came to benefit too. We were screened and ear impressions were made for ear moulds for those requiring hearing aids. The last ear mould I made 3years ago cost 20,000naira for one ear”, she said with excitement
She recalled that their moulds and hearing aids were ready in three months and that they were told to come for it. “I collected two hearing aids with ear moulds and 6packs of batteries. I used to buy a pack of batteries 2,500naira.”
Thanking the former president she further said that “all were given FREE OF CHARGE by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in collaboration with Starkey Hearing Foundation. That was not all. Since then, they come periodically to ensure the hearing aids were working well with the last visit being 22nd of January 2018.”
“I would remember when I was unable to have a good conversation with my kids.
I would remember when my daughter would say “Mummy I have been calling you but you didn’t answer”Â
Then I would say a silent “Thank you” to the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation and Starkey Hearing Foundation”, she said
Divulging into the hot news, awash in social and print media, the ‘Obasanjo Letter to Buhari’. She said has this to say, “a lot has been written both negative and positive on Obasanjo’s letter…”
“When I see the higi haga and crinkum crankum (apologies to Obahiagbon) about Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, I simply remember.
I would remember when I was unable to have a good conversation with my kids, she said.
She however claimed no affiliated with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation or Starkey Hearing Foundation except as a beneficiary of the hearing aids and accessories. “Neither have I set my eyes on or heard from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Ehen.” She concluded.