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October 5, 2015

Cochlear implantation operations are carried out on persons with impaired hearing capacity with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Implementation of the programme “Cochlear implantation” is launched by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

 

A working team comprised of local and foreign specialists invited from abroad has been set to implement the programme initiated following the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The working team has examined over 250 children with impaired hearing capacity since August 2015, on a free-of-charge basis. As a result of such examinations, a decision was made to carry out cochlear implantation operations on 80 of them, and it was established that 70 children needed a hearing device. 

 

Saying that “Projects “The highest care for children suffering from diabetics” and “For life without thalassemia” of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which has always taken close participation in removing challenges associated with providing healthcare services to the population, it’s support for projects on construction and renovation of health institutions, carrying out operations on children suffering from various pathologies, as well as projects aiming at integrating physically disabled people into the society have shown their positive outcomes”, said Executive Director of the Foundation Anar Alakbarov. According to him, within the programme “Cochlear implantation”, which was launched this year following the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, aiming at persons with impaired hearing capacity, especially among the underage, free-of-charge operations have been carried out on persons with impaired hearing capacity from the capital and the region of the country, and a decision was made to insert an implant to persons with impaired hearing capacity who have been assigned by specialists for operation. By 5 October, 26 persons were operated, and these people will pass a rehabilitation course in the course of a year, enjoying the support of the Foundation”- said Anar Alakbarov. 

 

26 people that have undergone a cochlear implantation are primarily between 1 and 6 years of age, and one person is aged 18. Operations on these children were successful; an impulse was received from their hearing nerves.


Aygun Rashidli, the mother of 3 year-old Ragib, expressed her satisfaction with the operation: “When I realized that my child did not hear, we consulted a doctor. We were told that cochlear implantation operations are carried out, with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, on children with impaired hearing capacity. I would like to thank doctors; they examined the child and took a decision to operate. The operation was successful. I would like to thank Mehriban khanum and everyone who have had their contribution.”

 

Maryam Aghabalayeva, the mother of 2 year-old Fatima, is infinitely happy. She shared her joy with us, saying: “When the child was 11 month old, we realized that she did not hear. Doctors said the problem could be solved through an operation, but we had no money to pay for. We wrote a letter to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Soon we received a response. We too benefited from the programme “Cochlear implantation” being carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The operation was successful. Doctors say the child’s hearing capacity would be restored in two months. I would like to thank President of the Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva.”  

 

Cochlear is a programme aiming at full social adaptation of people with impaired hearing capacity. Implants are applied to people with inherent and acquired hearing defects. Operations are carried out in 3 phases – comprehensive examination of the patient, surgical operation, and rehabilitation. During the examination phase, the cause and extent of the hearing defect, at the same time, further efficiency of the implantation is established. Cochlear implantation is comprised of stimulation of hearing nerve fibres in the cochlea through electrical impulses. In the course of operation, an implant with special electrodes is inserted into the inner ear, and the inner ear is replaced. During the cochlear implantation, a microprocessor (to transfer voices into electrical impulses) and a conductor are connected to the outer part of the ear. After the operation, these people gain the possibility to hear. As a result of cochlear operation, people with impaired hearing and talking capacity may return to normal lifestyle. Specialists say operations carried out in early ages give more efficient outcome, and the cause of disability in these people is removed. 

 

On October 5, implantation operations were carried out on 2 children. Zumrud Badirzadeh strongly believes her 15-monthson Said will be able to hear the world’s voices as a result of the implantation: “My son was born prematurely. And when he was 3 month old, he got sick and was administered a lot of antibiotic drugs. This may be the reason why he has got problems with hearing. After the examination, an operation was recommended. We thought where we could find money for operation. We appealed to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on this programme. We were entered on the list. And today he is going to be operated. I not only believe, but also am confident that my son will hear after the operation.”  

 

Both the operations carried out today are performed by Yevgenius Lessinskas, a professor of the Vilnius Medical University. He has been participating in national programmes on cochlear implantation in an number of countries. Moreover, he has gained experience in carrying out these operations in such countries as Romania, Moldova, Libya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Latvia etc. Expressing his pleasure of being in Baku, the Latvian scientist said it would be possible to carry out these operations in Azerbaijan with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by Mehriban Aliyeva. Whereby, he said, he could help children with impaired hearing capacity be normal members of the society. Noting that carrying out free-of-charge examinations and operations with support from the Foundation was a great success, the Latvian doctor said the efficiency of these practice’s outcome depends on the age factor and the skills of the parents to form capacity in children.

 

Carrying out operations on up to 100 persons and rehabilitation courses for them is planned during the preliminary phase of the cochlear implantations being carried out in Azerbaijan at the initiative and with support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. As a result of this programme’s implementation, the said people will gain a chance to restore their hearing and talking capacity.  


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