Egypt’s Ministry of Health revealed on Sunday that its health teams had examined 3.738 million babies, within the presidential initiative for the early detection and treatment of hearing impairment and loss.
The initiative, launched at the orders of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, started in September 2019.
Ministry Spokesman, Dr Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, said 244,332 babieshad been referred to re-examination through a confirmatory test.
A totalof 24,459 babies, he added, were referred, after anothertest, to 30 hospitals and referral centres nationwide for treatment, including through hearing aids.
He noted that some of the babies would need to have cochlear implants.
Abdel Ghaffar referred to an increase in the number of audiological screening centres for children to 3,500 across Egypt.
He said the babies examined for hearing impairment and loss included 8,437 foreign babies, in the light of directives by President Sisi.
The early detection of hearing impairment or loss, he said, gives specialists the chance to rescue the babies from hearing disability.
This early detection, he added, facilitates treatment and makes the babies avoid speech problems that can cause psychological crises in the future.
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