State govt. to provide free treatment for hearing impaired kids

Bengaluru: For the first time in the country, the Karnataka government has launched an unique project where all the kids with hearing impairments in the age group of eight months to six years will get free cochlear implant of Rs. 5.1 lakh free of cost. The project was launched on Tuesday, June 7.

Under this project, kids having hearing issues due to infection when they are in mother's womb will get free hearing implants. This project has been implemented under the Karyakram (RBSK) of the union health and family welfare ministry. Suvarna Arogya suraksha Trust has been appointed as the nodal agency to carry out the implementation of the project.

According the census 2011, in Karnataka, 1,939 kids are facing hearing issues. These kids will be provided with free hearing implants. If their problem is still not resolved they will be operated, again free of cost

According to the officials under this new scheme, RBSK will conduct a state-wide survey and identify the children with hearing problem. The survey teams will visit anganavadis, hostels and schools and examine the kids. In the next stage these kids will be sent to district hospital for second round of examination. Kids who are identified with hearing issues will be sent to notified hospitals for implantation of cochlear implant devices.

Notified hospitals for the implantation include KC general hospital, Bengaluru, Indira Gandhi Children's hospital, Bengaluru, Wenlock hospital, Mangalore, DIMS, Dharwad, RIMS, Raichur.