Help hearing-impaired get timely treatment: Dr Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 23 2023:
Observing that people having hearing problems tend to shy away from using hearing aids due to fear of social stigmatisation unlike people with eyesight issues wearing spectacles, health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan has urged people to help persons with hearing impairment get timely treatment and prevent possible aggravation of the condition.
Speaking as chief guest during the World Deaf Day observance jointly organised by National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD), NHM and directorate of Health Services under the theme "Ear and Hearing Care for All" at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, here, on Monday, Dr Ranjan highlighted the risk involved in inserting foreign objects in cleaning the ear wax as any injury in such process could be serious.
While stressing the need for creating public awareness to prevent ear infections, he further stated that the equipment handed over to the chief medical officer (CMO) concerned should be handled with care and make repairment immediately when the need arises.
He also appealed to the nodal officers to initiate debriefing various programmes taken up under the health department so as to help identify the gaps and challenges and ultimately help in successful implementation of the programmes.
The minister also appealed to the line departments for coordination and work as a team for fruition of welfare programmes of the health department.
He further appealed to all to eradicate stigma and discrimination towards people suffering from hearing loss and help them to get early and timely treatment.
The health department should also coordinate with social welfare department and procure hearing aids and make them available to the needy people, he said.
Delivering the presidential speech of the function, health services director Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang said that less than 10 percent of those needing hearing aids in the world could afford the same while in India only a little over 3 percent out of total population in need could use hearing aids.
Therefore, the government needs to reduce price of hearing aids so that more people needing it could afford them.
The observance function was also attended by NHM state mission director Dr Somorjit Ningombam, RIMS Otorhinolaryngology Department head Dr Th Sudhiranjan and JNIMS Otorhinolaryngology Department head Dr Dhakeswar Singh Potsangbam as guests of honour.
CMOs of Thoubal and Bishnupur were handed over medical equipment during the function.