HYDERABAD: The Government has decided to establish a deafness control programme in the State to offer high quality, sustainable and ear care programme to prevent, diagnose and manage deafness and also to set up rehabilitation programmes for hearing impaired.

In this regard, the Government plans to set up Andhra Pradesh Right to Hearing Society at ENT Hospital here to provide a wide range of services from prevention to rehabilitation, State Commissioner for Disabled Welfare Sundar Vadan told The Hindu.

The 10-member society with Chief Minister as Chairman, Minister for Medical and Health as Vice-Chairman, officials from the Women and Child Welfare Department, the Medical Education, the Disabled Welfare Department and audiologists and speech pathologists from ENT Hospital as members will be responsible to initiate and establish a deafness control programme.

There are also plans to set up speech and hearing centres in all teaching and district hospitals and to take up identification and intervention programmes.

Also, it will channelise hearing aids, conduct school screening programmes to identify students and render remedial action.

RTC drive

Meanwhile, the APSRTC has submitted a proposal of Rs. 28 crores for sanction from the Government for the Disabled Welfare Department. This will be used to issue bus passes to dwarfs and leprosy-cured persons.

It is likely to get sanctioned by March 31, Mr. Sundar Vandan added.

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