Anantapur, Mar 02: Anantapur District Collector O. Anand and Deputy Collector C. Vishnu Charan have appreciated the efforts of KIMS Saveera Hospital in restoring hearing to children through cochlear implant surgeries. Speaking at a programme organised on Monday to mark International Hearing Day, the officials interacted with children who had undergone cochlear implant procedures at the hospital.
The Collector said the event clearly demonstrated how children who had undergone the surgery were now able to hear, speak and confidently participate in society. He congratulated the management and doctors of KIMS Saveera for their commitment to providing advanced treatment to children with hearing impairment.
Consultant ENT Surgeon Dr. R. Raghavendra Reddy said hearing is a precious gift that enables people to understand the world around them. Some children, however, are born with hearing loss or develop it due to various medical conditions. He explained that cochlear implant surgery can help such children regain hearing and develop speech abilities.
Dr. Reddy said the surgery is usually expensive, but at KIMS Saveera it is being provided completely free of cost under government schemes such as Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva, EHS, and ADIP. In addition to the surgery, the hospital is also providing two years of free speech therapy for the children. He noted that these procedures have enabled children who were previously unable to hear or speak to communicate effectively. He also pointed out that KIMS Saveera is the only hospital in Anantapur performing cochlear implant surgeries.
District Coordinator for Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva Dr. Gangadhar said the programme began in 2021 and more than 50 surgeries have been performed so far. The beneficiaries include children aged between one year eight months and four years eleven months.
He said that if hearing impairment is not addressed at an early stage, children may face speech difficulties, social stigma, and limited opportunities later in life. Observance of World Hearing Day aims to raise awareness among parents about identifying hearing problems early and seeking timely medical intervention.