Mangaluru: Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Mangaluru, a constituent unit of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), in association with ‘Pai Family Endowment ( in memory of Suhas Gopal Pai) inaugurated a newborn hearing assessment centre at Government Lady Goschen Hospital on Tuesday, January 7.
Pai Family Foundation’s Anuradha (Shanthi) Gopal Pai, who is the main donor inaugurated the newborn hearing assessment centre.
She said, ” this initiative is to find solutions to the numerous challenges faced by the hearing challenged in and around the Dakshina Kannada district. The endowment will help in meeting the expenditure incurred for the rehabilitation of deafness with hearing aids or cochlear implant for the financially weaker sections of the society. ASHA workers play a pivotal role in making the public utilise this facility as they communicate with the public directly,” she said seeking the cooperation of all.
MAHE Vice-Chancellor Dr H Vinod Bhat lauded the efforts of ‘Pai Family Endowment’ for its noble service and announced five cochlear implants to the centre free of cost. It can be noted that cochlear implant costs around Rs 6.5 lakh. Vinod Bhat said that as this newly set up centre aims to screen all babies born in the hospital for hearing loss, MAHE too is ready to extend its support.
Meanwhile, the donors including Anuradha Gopal Pai were felicitated on the occasion. Later, a sensitisation programme for the ASHA workers of the district on newborn hearing assessment was held at the Sushrutha Hall in KMC Hospital in Attavar.
KMC Dean Dr M Venkatraya Prabhu presided over the programme. MAHE Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr V Surendra Shetty, Planning Director Dr Aparna, Lady Goschen Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Savitha B S and others were present. KMC Associate Dean Dr Nutan Kamath welcomed the gathering and Unit Chief of ENT Dept. KMC Dr Suja Sreedharan proposed vote of thanks.
