JAMMU: Reaffirming its commitment to community welfare and inclusive healthcare, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH) on Sunday organised a Free Hearing Screening Camp, benefiting over 182 people from diverse age groups and backgrounds.
The camp was held at the Narayana Multispeciality Clinic, Gandhi Nagar, under the theme “Hear, Listen, Speak”, with a focus on early diagnosis and timely intervention for hearing-related disorders. Beneficiaries ranged from young children with congenital hearing impairments to elderly patients suffering from age-related hearing loss.
The programme was inaugurated by Vikram Randhawa, MLA Bahu Constituency, who lauded the hospital’s efforts in extending quality healthcare beyond commercial boundaries. Addressing the gathering, he described the initiative as a true example of selfless service and termed SMVDNSH a “boon for Jammu and Kashmir”. He also highlighted the hospital’s cochlear implant programme as both a medical and humanitarian achievement.
Emphasising inclusivity, the camp focused on early screening among children with support from the J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra School for Hearing Handicapped, while senior citizens were assisted in collaboration with the CGHS Pensioners Welfare Association.
The camp was led by Dr Rohan Gupta, ENT and Cochlear Implant Surgeon, and offered advanced diagnostic tests including Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), Impedance Audiometry, and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) free of cost.
SMVDNSH is the only hospital in the region to have performed over 150 cochlear implant surgeries. The initiative is supported by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which has provided financial assistance for around 100 cochlear implants for congenitally deaf and mute children, ensuring that access to hearing care is not limited by economic constraints.
The hospital continues to play a key role in delivering specialised healthcare services to the underprivileged through various charitable and outreach programmes, officials said.
