PANJIM: The State government is gearing up to give hearing capacity to children suffering from hearing disability.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “Government of Goa will be tying up with the Government of India to sign an MoU, through the Goa Medical College, where we will be able to provide cochlear implants to the children suffering from a hearing disability.” A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants bypass the damaged hair cells of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain.
Stating that the success rate of the surgery is higher below the age of five, the Health Minister said, “A special rate has been given to the government through the MoU where initially 20-25 children will be in a position to be operated upon free of charge.”
He said the State would eventually draw up a scheme to facilitate the benefits to more children. The State is also planning its own scheme which will put it in a better position to tackle more children. “I am looking forward to signing this MoU to improve the hearing of our children especially between the age of 1 and 5 years. We will try our best to provide these cochlear implants so that our little babies and children can hear much better,” Rane added.
