Bishkek, November 09 (QNA) - During its recent visit to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, the Qatari medical delegation performed 53 cochlear implant surgeries for individuals with hearing loss. This marks the latest phase of the cochlear implant program for children with hearing loss, funded by the Endowment Fund for Healthcare of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Medical Corporation.

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs stated that these surgeries came after the examination of 69 cases previously prepared by the Kyrgyz medical team to ensure their readiness and actual need for surgical intervention.

Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments (Awqaf) and Head of the Cochlear Implant Support Committee, Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Meer, affirmed that the committee is working to develop the program by training local medical personnel to ensure the continuity of high-quality services. He noted that the Endowment Fund for Healthcare continues to support projects that serve those most in need of care, embodying the endowments' mission of sustainable giving.

Al Meer revealed that during its previous visits to Bishkek, the committee successfully assisted 231 patients who underwent cochlear implant surgeries, ear surgeries, or the fitting of hearing and rehabilitation devices. This brings the total number of beneficiaries of the program to 284, with direct funding from the Waqf Bank for Healthcare.

He emphasized that the humanitarian impact of this initiative extends beyond the medical aspect to profound psychological and social dimensions. The surgeries restore hope and joy to families who had struggled with communication difficulties. Following the procedures, patients began speaking and hearing sounds for the first time, a moving scene that embodies the Islamic endowment message of compassion and generosity.

For his part, Deputy Head of the Cochlear Implant Support Committee and Head of the ENT Department at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Qahtani, explained that the visit achieved tangible medical and humanitarian results, pointing out that the medical team provided alternative hearing solutions for the patients who underwent surgery and also evaluated the effectiveness of the auditory rehabilitation program to ensure maximum benefit from the surgery.

Al Qahtani added that the committee recommended several future steps during the visit, most notably: supporting the training of local doctors in cochlear implant surgeries, enhancing post-operative rehabilitation programs for children to ensure their auditory and social integration, and developing mechanisms for case referrals and pre-operative screening to ensure optimal benefit from implant opportunities.

This program comes within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Awqaf and the Ministry of Public Health, which aims to provide advanced medical care for individuals suffering from profound hearing loss, enabling them to hear and communicate naturally, thus contributing to their educational and social integration.

The cochlear implant project is one of the leading endowment programs overseen by the Ministry of Awqaf, represented by the General Directorate of Awqaf, through the Endowment Fund for Healthcare. This fund works to support and develop medical services and provide treatment and medical devices for those in need, fulfilling the wishes of the donors and executing their endowment conditions.

The Cochlear Implant Endowment embodies the leading humanitarian role of the State of Qatar in supporting sustainable health development, as this initiative transforms cases of hearing loss into individuals capable of hearing, speaking, and positively interacting in society, thus enhancing their opportunities for community participation. (QNA)