Mangaluru: With an aim to make the State free of children born with hearing disabilities and cure it at the earliest, the Karnataka state government has introduced ‘Shravanadosha Muktha’, a scheme oriented for the deaf and mute children in the State.
Addressing a press conference here in the city, Health Minister UT Khader informed the various aspects of the scheme. He said, “Around four months ago a pilot attempt was made to implement this scheme, which turned out to be successful. This scheme is basically for children below the age of 5 years who can get their ‘Cochlear Implants’ or ‘Auditory brainstem implant’, free of cost under the scheme.”
He also added that around 120 children are listed under the scheme. While some availed hearing aid, 50 needed to be operated under this scheme, out of which only 13 were below the age of 5 years. Thus creating awareness at the earliest of the age is important.
Khader was accompanied by Padmashree awardee Prof. Dr J. M. Hans who has performed more than 1000 cochlear implants as well as Dr Vasanti Anand of Manasa Cochlear Implant and ENT Centre – who has been working towards uplifting this scheme.
The doctors explained that the impairment in hearing could be identified as early as a day after the baby is born. However, to avail the scheme the child needs to be between the ages of above 8 months to below 5 years. Nevertheless, even if the child is above 5 years, the government has agreed to offer assistance to such patients.
It was learnt that for a normal ‘Cochlear Implant’, while a patient may be charged around Rupees 12 to 15 lakhs, under the ‘Shravanadosha Muktha’ scheme it will be done free for children below the age of 5 years and others will be provided for from the PM and CM funds.
Khader stated that very soon the scheme will be available at Wenlock Hospital and it has been a success due to several NGO’s, social welfare groups and clubs working towards the society, in collaboration with the assisted device for impaired and physically challenged which is under the central social welfare scheme.
108 Medical services to get new bike ambulances
In a separate announcement, the Health Minister said that around 150 bikes will be replacing the old bikes under the emergency medical service ‘108’. The bikes are scheduled to be upgraded by next month, he informed.
