Civil Hospital performs first cochlear implant on a child

Doctors at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital have performed their first-ever cochlear implant surgery on a four-year-old child with congenital hearing impairment. This development is significant as no other government hospital in the metropolitan city currently offers this complex and costly procedure. Cochlear implant surgery, typically available only in private hospitals at a huge cost of Rs5 to 6 million, involves implanting a highly sensitive medical device that restores hearing ability. The imported device is surgically placed in the bone behind the ear and connected to the auditory nerve, allowing children with congenital hearing loss to gain the ability to hear. According to Dr Khalid Bukhari, Medical Superintendent of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, the procedure was performed free of charge, offering hope to families who cannot afford private treatment. He stated that after the implant is placed, hearing is activated, and the child undergoes two months of speech therapy to develop communication skills. The child, who was admitted to the hospital's ENT Unit II, had been visiting the ENT outpatient department with his parents for consultations. Initially distressed by the high cost of the implant, the parents were reassured by the hospital's administration that the surgery and device would be provided at no cost. The hospital procured the implant through an NGO, ensuring the child received the best possible treatment. The intricate four-hour procedure was conducted under the supervision of ENT specialists, including Professor Sadaf Zia, Dr Syeda Uzma Naqvi, Dr Irfan Ahmed Sheikh, Dr Danish-ur-Rahim, and Dr Hira Hameed. The team completed the implantation, and the child is currently under medical care at the hospital. Speech therapy sessions will begin in a few days to help the child adapt to hearing. Dr Bukhari said that this surgery at the Civil Hospital is a huge step toward making advanced medical treatments accessible to the underprivileged.

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