DM sets target of 500 implant surgeries by June

Patna: DM Thiyagarajan S M on Friday announced a target to perform cochlear implant surgeries for 500 hearing-impaired children within the first six months of 2026. Speaking at a training workshop, he declared a mission to make Patna a deafness-free district. The initiative is a part of the "Shravan Shruti" programme, which aims to provide early identification, free surgical treatment, and comprehensive rehabilitation for children under the age of six.To ensure the success of this mission, the civil surgeon was directed to make newborn hearing screening mandatory for every institutional delivery. Furthermore, health workers were instructed to conduct behavioural tests during routine immunisation sessions to catch symptoms in children who may have been missed. The programme emphasises that early intervention is critical, as children treated at a younger age show significantly better results in developing normal speech and language skills.The workshop included technical training on identifying early warning signs and the importance of post-operative speech therapy. Data shared at the event revealed that between July and Nov 2025, the district screened 66,434 children, leading to the successful surgery of 32 children.By mobilising multiple departments—including education, panchayati raj, and social welfare—the administration aims to conduct door-to-door visits to ensure no child is left behind in the effort to make Patna a deafness-free district.