City vows to make cochlear implant affordable
| Date :25-Apr-2022 |
Staff Reporter
A mother, while narrating the journey of how her children were able to hear with the help of cochlear implant, made a very valid point. She said, “One can detect all other deformities in one’s child but it is difficult to identify the deafness of child. When my children were not speaking, I did not realise that they can’t hear. It took long for me to realise their deafness. If one fails to detect it then that child can not hear for the whole life. I was fortunate that the problem in my children was identified in time and they became the beneficiaries of cochlear implant.” There are several children in society who suffer due to hearing impairment. Apart from late diagnosis, affordability to have cochlear implant and its maintenance are other issues. Even if the child gets diagnosed, the parents of every child can not afford the expenditure of cochlear implant. If the child gets the implant surgery performed somehow under some scheme, the parents can not afford maintenance of the device as every accessory is costly. After thoroughly studying all aspects, NEETI Cochlear Implant Trust came forward with an appeal to people to donate. “Your small donation can make at least one child hear the beautiful music of this world,” urged Dr Madan Kapre, Managing Director of Neeti Clinics and President, Neeti Cochlear Implant Trust.
Responding to the call given by Dr Madan Kapre everybody present in the hall at Chitnavis Centre pledged to donate. They vowed to help to make the cochlear implant affordable. The Trust had organised a programme to put the issue of cochlear implant in front of the society on Sunday.
The cost of cochlear implant is about Rs 6 lakh which is not affordable for poor and lower middle class citizens. There are schemes under which one can avail of the benefit of the surgery but the income limit is very less--Rs 15,000
per annum. It means a person having a salary of mere Rs 5,000 per month, too, can not become the beneficiary. They find themselves helpless.
“Lack of affordability of the cost of cochlear implant is one issue. Another issue is bearing maintenance cost. No scheme has any scope for the maintenance cost. One processor costs Rs 3.5 lakh. How the families of having poor income would be able to spend this much amount is a million dollar question?” pointed out Dr Kapre.
Dr Kapre applauded the Cochlear implant services at various Government and Corporate Hospitals. He said that Trust is trying to help section of children who are unable to avail these schemes and about recurring expenditure for needy patients who may have got the implant free but cannot afford the further expenses. They would still need help from trust such as this. Any such help would go a long way in altering the plight of a child from being disabled to becoming independent and take up their rightful place in society.
Dr Harsh Karan Gupta, ENT Surgeon at Neeti Clinics and Honourary Secretary, Neeti Cochlear Implant Trust outlined the activities of the trust with regard to creating awareness and extending financial support to these children. Dr Harsh shared, “Since the Trust is now registered for 80G and CSR it would help donors to contribute to the trust,” informed Dr Gupta.
Earlier Neelu Somani, Senior Audiologist and Director of Somani Hearing and Speech Centre, stressed about the importance of early detection of hearing impairment in babies.
Mr Shardul from ‘Cochlear’ explained about the high-end technology involved and efficacy of cochlear implants.
Ishita Mandaviya, Audiologist and Speech and Language Therapist outlined the problems faced by families of hearing impaired children and how their constraints cause delay in treatment.
Dr Milind Kirtane, Padmashree and mentor for Cochlear implant programme expressed confidence in surgical skills of Dr Harsh and Dr Gauri and the technical infrastructure at Neeti Clinics to conduct these surgeries.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari through video message appreciated the work done by Neeti Cochlear Implant Trust and appealed to elite members of society to come forward and contribute towards this cause.
Dr Gauri Vaidya, ENT Surgeon, Neeti Clinics conducted the proceedings of the programme held at Chitnavis Centre.