Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader on Thursday launched ‘Aalisu Kanda’ (Listen, Little One), a cochlear implant programme under the state government’s Hearing Impairment-Free Karnataka Campaign, at Arogya Soudha in Bengaluru.
The programme aims to help children with hearing impairment develop communication skills and access mainstream education through early diagnosis, timely cochlear implant surgery and continued rehabilitation.
Under the initiative, the government will provide free cochlear implant surgery for eligible children, ₹50,000 towards six months of auditory-verbal and speech therapy, and ₹500 per week to parents accompanying their children for therapy.
Khader emphasised that every child should have the opportunity to hear, speak, learn and thrive. He said early identification, timely implantation and consistent rehabilitation were crucial to helping children develop communication abilities and lead fuller lives.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare will also establish a digital registry to ensure continuity of care and monitor each child’s rehabilitation journey.
Describing ‘Aalisu Kanda’ as more than a medical programme, the minister said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to equal opportunities and a better future for children with hearing impairment.
The programme is part of Karnataka’s broader efforts to improve early intervention and rehabilitation services and build a state where children with hearing impairment can access appropriate treatment and educational opportunities.
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