Campaign by health department of Vadodara district panchayat for improving deafness related problems for children

Free of cost Cochlear Implant Surgery of more than 20 Children gives a new lease of life to them

The state government has adopted a holistic development approach where the citizens are accessed with latest equipment and services related to health facilities. A number of schemes have been implemented in the Department of Health and Family Welfare with the objective of providing relaxation in form of welfare even to the citizens who are backward socially as well as economically. Not only that, the beneficiaries of many of the schemes have found a new life and many families feel the happiness again.

The Vadodara district panchayat’s health branch has begun a campaign where every child up to age of five years can improve deafness related problem. Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK) and School Health Examination, the children who are in need of treatment in the Vadodara district are treated and guided by specialist doctors. Significantly, under this program the cochlear implant has been successfully operated on more than 20 deaf children during the year 2018-19 and 2019-20. The Speech Therapy and Rehabilitation program (restored) required for them has also been made available in Vadodara, which rises new rays of hope and joys in children’s lives.

Recently, for the first time in Gujarat, a cochlear implant has been successfully operated in one center for four children in a single day that too in Vadodara. Kishan Rajput, Ammar Khedivala, Manasvi Raoji and Pradeep Mahavir Solanki cases were approved and later on 16th of February these four children underwent cochlear implant surgery at Sindhanya Dental & E&T Care, Vadodara.

Informing on the same Chief District Health Officer Dr. Uday Tilawat said that Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK) team revealed the details to children’s parents, explained about the cochlear implant operation and also about the after treatment provided to the child which could arose after the main treatment. He further added that it becomes possible for deaf and mute children up to the age of 4 to 5 years to get hearing aids as well as to speak. These kind of operations cost around 8 to 10 Lakhs, but it is the state government’s decision under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram and state government’s school health screening program that children should be provided the treatment free of cost.

In general, if a child undergoes a cochlear implant operation, a machine is placed in its ear and so a child who was never been able to hear a word in its life is able to listen now, that means a child is given a speech therapy continuously for one and half to two years, and the child is taught to speak after listening. Thus, this cochlear implant operation makes it possible for the child to hear and speak with the gestures, so that he or she can be able to hear and speak.

The facilities of Vadodara Health Branch are so renowned that people travel here for treatment not only from Gujarat but also from other states which includes Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and others. It is worth mentioning here that the cochlear implant program has been active in Vadodara for the last two years by the District Panchayat Health Branch and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK). Dr. Ankit Sindhania is also making this program a success by showing constant effort and cooperative attitude.

Important to note here is that Dr. Ankit Sindhania’s services are supported by the Central and State governments under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / Fitting of AIDS Appliances (ADIP) scheme. The child’s parents do not have to spend even a penny for the treatment. This way, cochlear implant treatment which cost around 8 to 10 Lakhs is done free of cost giving rejoice to the child.

Dr. Tilawat has appealed everyone in the district for treatment of such children up to the age of five years, to contact their nearest Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK), the SSG Hospital or Dr. Sindhania who has a clinic in Tarsalli , First Floor No. 27 -28, Nityanand Complex, Suzanne -Tarsali Road at Vadodara, as well as Sindhania Dental and ENT Care Hospital, 103 -104, Zade Square Building, Opposite Axis Bank, Urmi Four Lane, Akota, Vadodara.

It is also important to note here that Dr.Tilawat has also appealed to take maximum benefit of a free diagnosis and screening camp organized for deaf and dumb children who age up to five years, which will be organized on 6th of March, 2020, Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm at Sindhanya Dental and ENT Care Hospital, 103 -104, Zade Square Building, Opposite Axis Bank, Urmi Four Lane, Akota, Vadodara, so that the deaf and mute children up to the age of five years receive proper diagnosis and treatment, with specially the one who are needy are requested to take maximum advantage of the same.