PARKASH PURB Amritsar, November 12 Sri Guru Ram Das (SGRD)University of Health Sciences has conducted cochlear implant surgeries on 10 deaf and mute children, at a cost of Rs 55 lakh, to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The surgeries were conducted under the institute’s screening of universal neonatal deafness programme. Dr AP Singh, university dean, said, “We had started the programme two-years ago on the Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev. So far we have conducted 50 such surgeries.” He said all the surgeries conducted during the period were successful and in early cases, the children have also started speaking. Cochlear implant is a life changing surgery but high cost of implant is an affordability issue for many poor patients. The institute run by the SGPC is sponsoring the cost of implant and surgery for the needy children. Dr AP Singh said poor and needy children had been selected carefully from all over the state by the selection committee and were being operated by Dr SP Dubey from Bhopal, along with a team of surgeons from SGRD University, including Dr Vanita Sarin, professor ENT, Dr Bhanu Bhardwaj, associate professor, Dr Jaskaran Singh, assistant surgeon and Dr Pooja. Dr AP Singh said Dr Dubey had an experience of conducting over 1,000 cochlear implant surgeries. “After this surgery these children will be able to hear and speak like normal children after proper training and therapy,” he said. He said they were regularly organising screening camps in the region to create awareness regarding hearing loss in children and importance of early intervention.

Stay updated with all the Amritsar Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.