Thirteen children, in the age group of 1 to 6, with congenital hearing and speech impairment were identified for cochlear implant surgeries under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme during a special camp held here on Tuesday.
The camp, organised at the behest of the Collector K.S.Palanisamy, was meant to identify children with such impairment.
Field workers of the Integrated Child Development Scheme were involved in identifying these children.
Fourteen children identified by the field workers were screened at the camp by doctors of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital.
So far, 27 children have undergone free cochlear implant surgeries at the hospital under the scheme. They are undergoing speech therapy.
Five more children would undergo the surgery, costing about ₹8 lakhs, soon at the hospital.
Mr.Palanisamy said that parents of children with speech and hearing impairment can contact him or doctors of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital to undergo the surgery.