Last month, I wrote about a four year old girl named Iyaan, who became deaf due to mistreatment of the doctors in Maldives and her parents sued the health ministry of the country and demanded a record high compensation of Rf. 7.1 million (Us$5,57000). The good news is, last Wednesday, she underwent a successful cochlear implant. One month before the implant, a surgery was done. The girl can now hear well. Thanks to her kind-hearted donor whose son also suffered from hearing loss.
The case is still pending in the court and the government did not give any money. The operation was done at the Apollo Hospital in Colombo. Minivan News reports:
Audiologist Nusha Ishak at the Wickramarachchi Istitute for Speech and Hearing (WISH) centre, who fitted the equipment on Wednesday, said that the girl’s reaction had been “very good,” adding: “You could see her face lit up and she was smiling.”
The device is placed around the earlobe, with a magnetic attachment on the scalp, and allows sounds to be detected and heard when it is switched on.
The child will now receive regular speech therapy to re-introduce sounds, words and then sentences – a process which could take up to two years, according to Ishak.
The child’s father, Ahmed Ihusan, said he was “very happy” about the treatment, adding that it had been “the only option” for his daughter.
The child’s parents brought her to Colombo for the surgery just over a month ago after receiving the funds for the operation from donors.
Iyaan’s parents are now living in Colombo for their daughter’s treatment. Their case is still going on. The family demanded the money to cover all the expenses of the cochlear implants and maintenance. Iyaan will require six monthly maintenance each year for the rest of her life and for that she has to go to Colombo.
No parent in this world can see their child’s suffering. Iyaan’s parents are going through a tough time for her. Still, I am very happy for Iyaan that she regained her hearing. If any Maldives citizen or any other kind hearted person who is reading this post, please, help this child if you can. I wish and pray that Maldives government gives Iyaan’s family the money she needs for her treatment.
Related article:
Minivan News
It is a pathetic story. I think Maldives government should help this little girl and bear all the expenses of her treatment. It could be an example of sufferings caused by the mistreatment of the doctors in many countries. I hope, Maldives government would take some necessary initiatives to ensure that no other patient suffers like this girl in future.
Posted by: Biplob Kishore Deb | April 26, 2008 9:03 AM | Permalink to Comment