SGPC sponsors 12 kids’ cochlear surgery

Amritsar, July 5

The SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences (SGRDUHS) on Monday came to the aid of 12 hearing and speech impaired children by getting them operated at subsidised rates.

Under its ‘SOUND’ (Screening of Universal Neonatal Deafness) initiative, the SGPC has borne 75% cost of the cochlear implantation whereas 25% was furnished by the parents of these children belonging to the economically weaker section.

Dr AP Singh, dean, SGRDUHS, said, “The cost of treatment as per the PGI norms comes to around Rs 6.9 lakh per patient whereas the private institutes charge no less than Rs 9 lakh. Looking at the affordability factor, we motivated their parents to contribute whatever they could. They collected Rs 22 lakh whereas the rest of Rs 75 lakh was paid by the SGPC.” — TNS

Hearing implant

The cochlear implant is an electronic device surgically placed inside the skin and an external portion that sits behind the ear. It enables children to hear and respond