New hearing device developed in Gaza

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Renowned UAE ear specialist, Dr Mazen al-Hajri, announced in Gaza on Sunday the manufacture of a newly developed cochlea implant.

Al Hajri who was awarded the 2011 OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) prize said, “The first cochlea implant operation took place in 2007 and posed significant danger to children. However, thanks to Allah, today we have been able to develop this new kind of technology to be less dangerous”. He added, “It is less dangerous than before as the hearing device is now smaller and is placed via endoscopic surgery.”

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To date, the ENT specialist has carried out over 1,122 cochlea implant operations more than 90 per cent of which have been free as Arab donors compete to sponsor these kinds of surgeries. “The whole surgery takes only 35 minutes,” Dr Al-Hajri said.

Al Hajri also announced that the hearing device used by the deaf has also become cheaper than in the past thanks to the development of technologies which allow it to be much smaller and to run on normal rechargeable batteries.

Meanwhile, the Qatari delegation currently visiting Gaza announced plans to sponsor a special hospital for artificial limbs. The hospital will include a special department for the deaf in response to appeals made by Dr Al-Hajri.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad