DR ‹ › Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, chaired the opening of the 1st African Congress on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation on Friday at the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences in Rabat. The event marks an important step toward building an African hub dedicated to childhood deafness and cochlear implantation. Upon her arrival, the Princess was welcomed by several government officials, regional representatives, and partners of the Foundation. She also visited the Foundation's stand, which showcases initiatives supporting the inclusion and education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. During the opening ceremony, Youns Bjijou, speaking on behalf of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health, emphasized the strategic importance of the Congress. He highlighted the strong national commitment to social inclusion and noted that, thanks to the work of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, thousands of children in Morocco and Africa have regained hearing and access to schooling, training, and community life. Karim Essakalli, Deputy President of the Foundation, described the Congress as a moment «where science becomes a bearer of tenderness», bringing together skills from across Africa so that no child remains isolated by silence. Two cooperation agreements were signed during the event. The first strengthens research and innovation between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health, focusing on childhood deafness and the development of joint research projects. The second agreement, signed with CNOPS, will allow civil servants and their families to benefit from full coverage and reimbursement of cochlear implants under the same conditions as other insurance schemes. Princess Lalla Asmaa also awarded the Foundation's Scientific Research Prize to Dr. Ghita Mechaia for developing a Darija-based mobile application to support auditory training for children after cochlear implantation. The Congress brings together experts from five continents, researchers, clinicians, engineers, speech therapists, and policymakers, who aim to establish new forms of scientific and medical cooperation. This inaugural edition marks the start of a long-term dynamic to advance auditory care and strengthen Africa's capacity to innovate in this field.
