Gandhinagar, Feb 28 (NationPress) The state of Gujarat is set to enhance access to cutting-edge hearing restoration technology for children while also modernizing its community health infrastructure, as announced by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya during the Assembly session on Saturday.

Addressing inquiries regarding the treatment of congenital deafness, the minister referred to cochlear implant therapy as a significant advancement for children with congenital hearing loss, highlighting that this service is currently available in eight hospitals across the state.

These facilities include the Civil Hospital in Asarwa, G.M.E.R.S. in Sola, Ahmedabad; Civil Hospital in Gandhinagar; G.G. Hospital in Jamnagar; P.D.U. Civil Hospital in Rajkot; New Civil Hospital in Surat; S.S.G. Hospital in Vadodara; and Sir Takhatsinhji Hospital in Bhavnagar.

He emphasized that Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital offers a comprehensive suite of services for children suffering from congenital deafness, including hearing assessments, necessary blood and radiological tests, evaluations of mental development, cochlear implant surgeries, and post-operative auditory-verbal therapy.

“If a six-year-old child cannot hear or speak, they should be taken to the nearest Civil Hospital, where appropriate treatment can facilitate the development of hearing and speech capabilities,” he advised the Assembly.

The minister elaborated that the initiative aims to provide costly treatments free of charge for underprivileged and middle-class families.

“The state government covers the entire expense of the surgery and the implant,” he stated.

For the replacement of the speech processor post-surgery, the government subsidizes 90% of the total cost for families earning up to Rs 4 lakh annually, requiring parents to contribute only the remaining 10%.

In a separate update, Minister Pansheriya disclosed that the state intends to upgrade Community Health Centres from a staffing model of 27 to 40 to provide modern treatment services closer to communities.

“As part of this initiative, we have granted in-principle approval to bolster the Dhanera Community Health Centre with five additional specialists—a paediatrician, gynaecologist, physician, general surgeon, and anaesthesiologist—along with more paramedical and support staff,” he mentioned.

Currently, the Dhanera centre offers both inpatient and outpatient services, including maternity and laboratory facilities, and is set to be enhanced with more specialists to meet the standards necessary for sub-district hospital designation.

In response to queries regarding cancer treatment in the Banaskantha district, the minister confirmed that patients with severe conditions are referred to Ahmedabad for super-specialist care.

Additionally, he informed the Assembly that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is initiating a nationwide campaign today (Saturday) to provide free vaccinations for girls aged 14 to 15 years to avert cervical cancer, with Gujarat's campaign being launched from Ahmedabad by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to cover eligible girls throughout the state.