The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ICH to screen newborns for hearing defects

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Thursday, Nov 13, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

ICH to screen newborns for hearing defects

Special Correspondent

Preterm babies to be screened for blindness
‘Ekam,’ which helps children with cancer, will launch a community project

CHENNAI: The Institute of Child Health, Egmore, will launch on Friday, the Children’s Day, a scheme to screen all newborns for hearing defects, under a series of initiatives with the support of private organisations.

Specialists of the Madras ENT Research Foundation, along with Silent Malady Trust which will provide the machines, will screen newborns and low-birth weight and sick babies admitted to the hospital for hearing loss. These babies have been chosen as they are considered a high-risk group, institute superintendent K. Githa told reporters on Tuesday.

An ophthalmologist will screen preterm babies for blindness. This will be taken up before the babies are discharged from the hospital.

‘Ekam,’ an organisation helping children with cancer and leukaemia admitted to the institute, will launch a community project. On the same day, the institute will commission equipment worth Rs.85 lakh for its Cardiothoracic Department to enable it perform heart surgeries.

Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam is expected to participate in the programme.

On Saturday, the institute will celebrate its golden jubilee by honouring former directors of the institute and conducting a continuing medical education programme.

K. Meer Mustafa Hussain, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University, will inaugurate the annual newborn week.

The institute receives 2,000 children in its outpatient wards and admits at least 60 children as inpatients every day.

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