Initiative to detect, treat hearing loss among newborns launched

CAIRO - 11 September 2019: The government announced on Wednesday launching the presidential initiative to detect and treat hearing loss among newborns.

For that purpose, the government bought 1,462 hearing test devices targeting to conduct 5,000 cochlear implant surgeries annually. The Ministry of Interior has set as a requirement to issue birth certificates subjecting newborns to the hearing test.

Since its launching in February, 8,730,801 school students have been screened within a campaign to determine the prevalence of obesity, anemia, and dwarfness.

Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed had stated in the launching that the screening would target almost 12 million students - aged between six and 12 - at 22,000 public, private, and Azhar schools.

The screening is assumed by 5,200 medical teams. Each is composed of a doctor, a nurse, a chemist, and a recorder. Students who need treatment are referred to one of the 225 clinics affiliated with the Medical Insurance Authority.

Check-ups take place after providing a written consent of a parent or guardian, and the student’s birth certificate.