Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) staff was witness to shades of ‘Koshish’, the 1972 flick based on the life of a deaf and mute couple, and Directed by Gulzar. The attempt at IGGMCH had a happy ending too. Technology played a key role in the ‘Koshish’ at IGGMCH as successful cochlear implant is helping the 18 months’ old patient, Sarvi speak and hear. Prabhakar Nikhare (32) and Sonali (30), residents of Andhalgaon, Bhandara district, are born mute and deaf. Their first girl child, Sarvi (18 months), was born with the same disability. Nikhares’ is a joint family. Due to other family members around, Sarvi’s disability could be noticed much early. According to Roshan Nikhare, younger brother of Prabhakar, “We noticed Sarvi’s problem and approached Dr Pramod Dhurve. I was aware of one such case where cochlear implant was done on a child. Dr Dhurve advised us to approach Dr Ashish Disawal in Nagpur. Dr Disawal attended Sarvi and told us that she had congenital problem for which cochlear implant could be the solution.” Dr Ashish Disawal, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, said, “It was Roshan and his maternal uncle Chandrashekhar Sonkusare who acted as a bridge between the family and us. Communicating all the details to the patient’s parents was not possible, but Roshan took all efforts.

 

He not only convinced the parents of Sarvi but also explained the process to his family.” Chandrashekhar Sonkusare, maternal uncle of Prabhakar and Roshan pointed out, “Actually my sister, mother of Roshan and Prabhakar, and her husband both wanted Sarvi to be a normal child. My wife Gauri is a nurse at a hospital. She also convinced us for the implant.” Roshan took them to Dr Jeevan Vedi, Head, Department of ENT, IGGMCH who performs cochlear implant procedures. According to Dr Vedi, the procedure costs around Rs 6.50 lakh. After the child undergoes the procedure it has to attend 156 sessions of speech therapy at audiologist per year for two years. If that cost is added then it comes to around Rs 8-9 lakh. “Considering the family’s financial condition, we helped the couple to get their case sanctioned under Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

 

I have learned this art of performing procedure under ‘Padma Shri’ Dr Milind Kirtane and still takes his guidance. He is very co-operative and encourages us to perform surgeries. Sarvi’s case is the youngest one at least in IGGMCH. We felt very happy when the switch-on (Switch on procedure is held after 15 days of cochlear implant surgery), was conducted on Sarvi and she heard first sound,” added Dr Jeevan Vedi. Dr Ashish Disawal commented, “Age factor plays an important role. Sarvi being very young, she responded to our therapy swiftly. I have been holding speech therapy sessions since long and everytime it gives me same amount of happiness when I see child keenly listening to the first sound of nature.” Dr Prashant Nikhade, senior ENT Surgeon, said, “Performing cochlear implant is not everyone’s cup of tea. We say God proposes and human disposes. Here I would say humbly, despite congenital defect, here human doctor corrects the error making child hear and speak. I call these doctors as angels.”