Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, presided today over the opening ceremony of the First African Congress on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation at the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences in Rabat.
The event marks a significant step toward establishing a true African hub dedicated to childhood hearing loss and cochlear implantation.
Upon arrival, Princess Lalla Asmaa reviewed a section of the Auxiliary Forces rendering honors. She was then greeted by senior officials, including Minister of Health Amine Tahraoui, Minister of Higher Education Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Youth Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Solidarity Naima Ben Yahya, and the Wali of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region, Mohamed Yacoubi.
She was also welcomed by other regional and national dignitaries, including the national coordinator of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) Mohammed Dardouri, and leaders of the Lalla Asmaa and Mohammed VI University Foundations.
Princess Lalla Asmaa then visited the “Lalla Asmaa Foundation” stand, which showcases the Foundation’s long-standing initiatives promoting the inclusion, education, and dignity of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
During the opening ceremony, Youns Bjijou, Deputy Director of the Mohammed VI Foundation of Health Sciences, spoke on behalf of the Foundation’s CEO, Professor Lahcen Belyamani.
He noted that the Princess’s presence gives the congress “both strategic and moral significance,” highlighting Morocco’s commitment to social inclusion and human development.
Bjijou also noted that thanks to Princess Lalla Asmaa’s personal commitment, childhood deafness has become a key field for solidarity, knowledge transfer, and the creation of innovative models to serve children and families across Morocco and Africa.
He added that tens of thousands of children have regained their hearing, enabling access to school, training, and full participation in community life.
Karim Essakalli, Delegate President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, echoed these remarks, describing the congress as an opportunity “where science becomes a source of compassion, uniting expertise from across the continent so that no child remains trapped in silence.”
Essakalli added that Princess Lalla Asmaa’s dedication offers deaf children a more dignified future. He also cited the national and international impact of the Foundation’s programs, noting 850 children implanted in Morocco, 341 abroad, and recognition of Moroccan expertise in 21 countries.
Cochlear research, access boosted
The Princess then presided over the signing of two agreements. The first strengthens cooperation between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and the Mohammed VI Foundation of Health Sciences, fostering joint research projects and close collaboration between a field-based organization and an academic and scientific institution.
The second establishes a partnership with Morocco’s National Fund for Social Security Organizations (CNOPS), ensuring full coverage of cochlear implants for CNOPS-affiliated public employees and their families.
Princess Lalla Asmaa also presented the “Princess Lalla Asmaa Award for Scientific Research” to Ghita Mechaia for her project developing a mobile application in Moroccan Arabic (Darija) for post-implant auditory training in children.
The award aims to encourage applied research capable of generating tangible improvements in the lives of deaf children.
Concluding the ceremony, Princess Lalla Asmaa visited booths of leading auditory technology and hearing specialists present at the congress.
By bringing together experts from five continents, including researchers, clinicians, engineers, speech therapists, and institutional representatives, Morocco is laying the foundation for unprecedented scientific and medical cooperation.
This inaugural African Congress on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation signals a growing momentum and reinforces Morocco’s commitment to act, innovate, and share knowledge, ensuring that Africa can “hear the future.”
MWN with MAP
