Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH), in collaboration with the Central Government Pensioners’ Welfare Association (CGPWA) Jammu, organized a one-day free hearing screening camp at the Narayana Hospital OPD, Gandhinagar, today.
The camp witnessed a strong response, with more than 182 patients undergoing hearing evaluation and receiving medical consultation. Costly diagnostic procedures including Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), Impedance Audiometry and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) tests were provided free of cost.
The camp was inaugurated by MLA Bahu Vikram Randhawa in the presence of students from the School for Hearing Handicapped run by the J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra (SKK), Jammu.
The programme was attended by CGPWA general secretary KB Jandial and other office bearers, including BB Magotra, OP Sharma and Sunil Sharma. Around 40 hearing-impaired students from the SKK-run school and nearly 30 pensioners were among the beneficiaries.
Senior Consultant ENT at SMVDNSH and specialist in otology, neuro-otology, deafness and vertigo, Dr Rohan Gupta, examined the patients. The camp was organized under the theme “Hear, Listen, Speak” and catered to a wide age group, ranging from toddlers with congenital hearing defects to elderly individuals facing age-related hearing loss.
Dr Gupta highlighted the importance of early detection and intervention in children with hearing impairments, stating that addressing hearing issues at the age of five to six years significantly improves outcomes in speech and hearing restoration.
The camp also highlighted the cochlear implant programme being implemented by SMVDNSH with support from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Under this social welfare initiative, the cost of cochlear implant surgeries for children belonging to below poverty line (BPL) families is borne by the Shrine Board. Over 100 such surgeries have been conducted so far, with each procedure costing more than Rs 7 lakh.
MLA Vikram Randhawa said that such initiatives play an important role in addressing the healthcare needs of Divyangjan and senior citizens and expressed hope that similar medical outreach programmes would continue in the future.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
