Six children hear again after life-changing cochlear implant surgery at MTRH

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has marked another major medical milestone after successfully performing cochlear implant surgeries that enabled six children to regain their hearing.

The Cochlear Implant Surgery Program 2025 has brought renewed hope to children with profound hearing loss and their families, who expressed immense joy.

The six children, who underwent cochlear implant surgery in November, successfully had their devices activated in a process known as the “switch-on.” This critical stage marks the first introduction of sound, after which the children will begin individualised speech and auditory therapy to develop communication and listening skills.

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The surgeries were performed on children diagnosed with profound hearing loss. The program was made possible through the support of Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco, in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“This is a milestone for which we thank God, the medical experts involved, and our First Lady Rachel Ruto for supporting the initiative,” said MTRH CEO Dr Phillip Kirwa.

The success of the switch-on was anchored on the expertise and dedication of MTRH’s multidisciplinary cochlear implant team, comprising surgeons, audiologists, speech therapists, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists.

Audiologists, including Angela Kiragu, played a central role in pre-implant assessments, device programming, and the meticulous switch-on process, ensuring each child’s implant was carefully calibrated to their individual hearing needs.

Speech and language therapy services, coordinated by Selina Kibusi, are integral to the post-activation phase, guiding the children and their families through structured speech and auditory rehabilitation to enable effective communication and language development.

Dr Owen Menach, Director of Surgical Services at MTRH and lead of the Cochlear Implant Surgical Team, highlighted the far-reaching impact of the initiative, noting that it offers the children the invaluable gift of sound.

He added that the hospital will continue to strengthen early screening, speech therapy, and follow-up services, with each child scheduled for continuous monitoring and rehabilitation over the next three years.

Dr Kirwa described the switch-on as a defining moment in the children’s lives, marking the beginning of a new journey of sound, communication, and social inclusion after months of assessment, surgery, and rehabilitation.

“This is not just a medical achievement, but a transformative moment for the children and their families. The cochlear implant switch-on restores hope and opens doors to learning, interaction, and a better quality of life,” he said.

Dr Kirwa reaffirmed MTRH’s commitment to advancing specialised care through strong partnerships with government and development partners, adding that the hospital remains dedicated to strengthening hearing health services in line with the Universal Health Coverage agenda.

Dr Menach said the process costs over Sh3.5 million but was offered free of charge, courtesy of support from First Lady Rachel Ruto, Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco, and SHA.

“This programme can benefit many Kenyans with such challenges, as long as they register with SHA and are assessed for surgery,” said Dr Menach.

Some parents of the beneficiary children shed tears of joy on learning that their children could now hear for the first time.

One parent, Sabina Musimbi from Kakamega County, said her family had endured a traumatising experience due to the loss of hearing and expressed gratitude to the First Lady for spearheading the initiative.

“I didn’t know my child would ever hear again, but I thank God, the First Lady, and MTRH, among others, who have changed our lives for the better,” she said.

The parents said MTRH handled them professionally and supported them throughout the entire process.