Princess Lalla Asmaa supports cochlear implants for children from Morocco and Panama
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Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco visited children in Rabat who recently received cochlear implants through the NASMAA program, an initiative driven by King Mohammed VI to expand healthcare access and support people with disabilities.
The Princess met with five Moroccan children and five from Panama, all of whom underwent surgery funded by the Foundation. A team of eight Moroccan surgeons, led by Professor Abdelaziz Raji and Brigadier General Dr. Fouad Benariba, performed the procedures at hospitals in Marrakech and Rabat.
The NASMAA program provides full coverage for the implants and the necessary rehabilitation. Panama recently became the 22nd country, and the second in Latin America after El Salvador, to participate in the program, benefiting from a Moroccan model of care developed over time and extended to inclusive schools in several cities.
Morocco is sharing its expertise internationally, recognizing a significant need for hearing care, particularly in Africa where only 10% of the 33 million people who need hearing aids currently have access to them. The Foundation also highlighted the economic benefits of investing in hearing care, citing a World Health Organization finding that every dollar spent yields a $16 return.
Princess Lalla Asmaa launched a neonatal screening program in 2023 to expand the program’s reach, and the initiative includes long-term patient follow-up. Representatives from Panama and Morocco’s Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region welcomed the Princess upon her arrival.
