50 children regain hope of hearing in Gaza
50 children in the Gaza Strip underwent cochlear implant surgeries after waiting over three years, in a medical project that faced a severe shortage of equipment and supplies, while more than 150 children are still waiting their turn.
50 children in the Gaza Strip underwent cochlear implant surgeries, after waiting over three years. The medical project, carried out by the association "My Right to Hear" with funding from the Islamic Development and Empowerment Agency in America (IDEA), faced a severe shortage of medical equipment and supplies due to the repercussions of the war. Dr. Haitham al-Ajla, consultant ear, nose, and throat surgeon and cochlear implant specialist at the Ministry of Health, explained that some of the children who received implants reached the age of four or five, which is the maximum allowed age. He noted that the medical team had to borrow equipment from other hospitals, including a surgical microscope from the neurosurgery department at Nasser Medical Complex. More than 150 children still need cochlear implants, amid difficulties in travel and coordination to get them treatment outside the sector, and complexities in completing rehabilitation stages after implantation.