El Salvador has begun the surgical phase of its first cochlear implant mission for deaf children, with the initial group of patients successfully operated on at Zacamil Hospital. The procedures mark a major milestone in a medical cooperation effort coordinated with the Lalla Asmaa Foundation of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Cochlear implants are electronic devices designed to improve hearing for individuals with profound hearing loss that cannot be corrected with external hearing aids. A total of 23 surgeries are planned as part of this humanitarian initiative, which emerged from the bilateral cooperation strengthened after First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s official visit to Morocco in July.
Thanks to this alliance, both the implants—each valued at approximately $15,000—and the surgical procedures, which normally cost between $30,000 and $40,000 per patient, are being provided at no cost to Salvadoran families.
Implant activation does not occur immediately. It typically takes place four to six weeks after surgery, once the surgical wound has healed. During that appointment, the external processor is connected, the first auditory mapping is performed, and families receive guidance on proper use and care of the device.
The surgical team includes Moroccan specialists—three otologic surgeons, an audiologist, and a representative from the cochlear company in Morocco—working alongside Salvadoran professionals from the National Children’s Hospital Benjamín Bloom, Zacamil Hospital, and the Salvadoran Institute for Comprehensive Rehabilitation, ensuring coordinated, high-quality care for every patient.