Mangaluru: The ambitious project of Health Minister UT Khader to make Karnataka a state free of hearing ailments was seen as a reality on Wednesday, October 28, as 133 patients were provided with hearing kits free of cost under the pilot project in Dakshina Kannada. As many as 11 kids in the district had already received free cochlear implant.
The beneficiaries were identified by ASHA workers through Taluk heath care centres. A screening camp was then held at Natekal. The project is jointly funded by the Prime Minister’s Fund, Karnataka State Relief Fund and Lions Club here. Yenepoya Hospital offers free MRI and CT Scan to the beneficiaries under the scheme.
Speaking to the media, Khader said that under the project, beneficiaries under five years of age will be treated free of cost while the rest need to pay a small portion of the total amount. While the cochlear implant procedure costs around Rs 9-11 lakh per individual, the hearing kit will cost around Rs 15,000-30,000.
“As much as 50 percent of the cost would be borne by the Central government and 30 percent by the State. The rest will have to be borne by the beneficiary. The project will be extended to other districts in the state shortly under public-private partnership,” he said.
New initiatives by the Health Department
Speaking about new initiatives, Khader informed that in order to better serve the patients at Lady Goschen Hospital, two expert gynaecologists have been deputed additionally. He said that plans are being readied to facelift the hospital.
Khader also said that a new initiative to check the blood samples of newborns will soon be introduced. The initiative will help diagnose seven types of genetic diseases so that they could be treated at an early stage. The Minister said that the process will be done free of cost in government hospitals. The blood samples will be sent to a laboratory in Bengaluru to get them tested.
Challagetta Valley Project
In view of meeting the water supply demands in Kolar, Khader, who is also the Kolar District In-charge Minister, said the government is mooting to refine the sewage water from corners of Bengaluru and supply the same to drought-hit Kolar. He said that few rounds of meetings with local political leaders and officials concerned had already been held and that a tender would soon be called. On asked if the government was planning to shelve the Yettinahole project, Khader chose to remain tightlipped.
Prashanth Poojary murder case
The Dakshina Kannada unit of BJP has been slamming the Congress in the Prashanth Poojary murder case citing that the leaders concerned did not pay a courtesy visit to his house and have also been demanding compensation amounting to Rs 25 lakh.
Responding to this, Khader said that Youth Minister and Moodbidri MLA Abhayachandra Jain could not pay a courtesy visit to Prashanth as his busy schedule had kept him away from the town.
Quashing the BJP’s demand to grant Rs 25 lakh to Prashanth’s family, he said that Prashanth was killed due to alleged rivalry as contrary to the Tannikodu Sringeri shootout case where victim Kabir got killed in the hands of a government employee and hence in that case, it was the duty of the government to grant compensation.
