Ministry of Health and Prevention performs first successful cochlear implant of ‘Help me hear’ program

• Move is part of UAE ‘Year of Giving’ initiative
• MOHAP to provide treatment to as many children as possible

The ENT Team of Al Qassimi Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), supported by Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics MOHAP, has successfully performed cochlear implant surgery for a two-year old Indian girl suffering from hearing loss of sensory nerves since birth. The operation is the first procedure under the Ministry's 'Help me hear' initiative.

According to the Ministry, the electronic device was implanted in the child's inner ear, which will be followed with another procedure to insert a speech processor. Once the surgeries are complete, the child will be able to hear for the first time.

Dr. Al Rand shared that MOHAP is continuing its strategic efforts to achieve sustainable health for the UAE community based on the highest international standards--aiming to provide comprehensive and distinctive services to reach the highest level of health care services by 2021, in line with UAE Vision 2021.

The surgery is a first for the 'Help me hear' initiative, which was launched in cooperation with the Ministry's strategic partners and is aimed towards helping deserving UAE children between the ages of six months to four years suffering from hearing loss and whose families cannot afford medical treatment. The program falls in line with the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to declare 2017 as the 'Year of Giving.'

The 'Help me hear' imitative aims to provide free assistance to a large number of children who are deaf and needy following the mandate of the state to provide free treatment for its citizens.