TMB Report
Imphal: District Health Society, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD), Imphal East organised a National Hearing Awareness Campaign on the theme ‘Ear and Hearing Care for All’ at Panchayat Bhawan, Imphal-East on Wednesday.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Deputy Commissioner Imphal East, Diana Khumanthem stated that inability to hear can occur anytime without any warning to any person due to natural or external causes and urged the people to visit nearby hospitals upon any discomfort in hearing.
She stressed on the importance of timely intervention to prevent any unwanted results especially in children. It is important for children to tell the parents if they come across any injuries in their ears in school or while playing.
She noted that students must make the best use of the awareness program and hoped that they will spread the knowledge of the awareness to family members and to others also. She said that it is not enough to only learn lessons included in the syllabus and urged for obtaining knowledge from surrounding environment.
Diana pointed that hearing problem often occur from birth and in some cases, it results from pregnant mothers neglecting their diets during pregnancy and consuming antibiotics. She appealed to pregnant women to take intensive care during their pregnancy. She stated that one must not be discriminated for their inability to hear and that they could be communicated through sign language.
Giving his speech at the awareness campaign, Head of JNIMS Otorhinolaryngology Department Dr Potsangbam Dhakeshwor elaborated that 6 out of 100 persons in India face hearing problem. He lamented that it is habitual in India to go for treatment after being diagnosed rather than taking prevention and care. He urged on eradicating such habit and stressed on taking prevention to take special care and consult doctors even at the slightest discomfort.
He said that Cochlear implant facility is available at JNIMS and appealed to the people to take advantage of it as the surgery will be performed free of cost by the government and there is facility to meet up with the needs of the operation by the government.
The awareness campaign was also attended by Chief Medical officer Imphal East, Dr lourembam Indrani and Headmistress of Government Deaf and mute School Nongmaithem Kalpana as presidium members.
An essay and painting competition was also organised as a part of the awareness program between two categories and participated by around 100 students. The category was divided between class 7,8 and Class 9, 10.
