As Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Stuttering Day, Health professionals have called for the integration of speech therapy into the nation’s health system as a major strategy to check the rising number of stutterers in the country.

Stuttering is a communication disorder characterised by excessive involuntary disruptions or blockings in the flow of speech, particularly when such disruptions consist of repetitions accompanied by avoidance or struggle behaviour.

At a public lecture organised by the Speech Therapy Department of National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, NOHIL, to mark the Day with the theme: “A voice and Something to Say” they noted that despite the challenges face by Nigerian stutterers little or nothing is being done to alleviate their sufferings.

The Guest lecturer, Professor Julius Ademokoya, Department of Special Education, University of Ibadan, called on the Federal Government to urgently establish a Speech Unit in all government hospitals across the 36 states of the country.

Giving details of the frustrations of  stutterers, Ademokoya lamented that  “the frustrations of having something to say but have no voice to say could be better imagined than experienced. “This is often the daily experience of stutters who are intelligent, who have ides or needs to express or requests to make but are often helpless and frustrated to say it, because they lack good voice to say it.”

He further urged government to pay more attention to stuttering challenge by making speech and listening part of their general studies, compulsory for all students.

On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Yinusa Wahab who was represented by Head Clinical Services, Dr. Olurotimi Odunubi, noting that 1 percent of the population are stutterers advised that people should only empathised with sufferers and not sympathise with them.

The Head of Department, Speech Therapy, NOHIL, Mrs. Grace Shokoya regretted that despite the burden of the disorder, little or no attention is paid to the condition.

Shokoya noted that most stutterers suffer serious neglect and discrimination in schools and in the society at large.

She announced that to ensure that all stutterers achieve their potentials, the department is establishing help and support group in the communities to assist people with the challenge.

Speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye who was represented by Mrs. Oluwa Toyin called for more awareness campaign on the disorder. partner.