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PSGH, MIT & Shanti Ashram provide ₹90 lakh worth of hearing aids to underprivileged children

PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (PSGIMSR), in collaboration with Shanti Ashram, Coimbatore, the Medical Intervention Team (MIT) from Germany, and the International Centre for Public Health (ICPH), has jointly provided hearing aids worth ₹90 lakh to 37 underprivileged children and students. The initiative, undertaken by the four organisations, aims to provide a healthy start for children with hearing impairments. Under the programme, MIT sponsors hearing aids, Shanti Ashram undertakes screening and identification of beneficiaries, and PSG provides medical support. To be noted, Pavel Hörgeräte, a company specialising in hearing aid audiology in Germany, manufactures the hearing aids and provides them to MIT at a concessional rate.  Each device is custom-made to suit the individual’s ear. The collaboration began in 2024, and every year, a team from Germany visits to provide hearing aids free of charge. This year marks the third consecutive year of the initiative. To highlight this collaborative effort, a press meet was held at PSG Hospitals on Friday. The meeting was organised to share details of the joint initiative. Dr. Bhuvaneswaran, Director of PSG Hospitals; Dr. Kezevino Aram, President of Shanti Ashram and Founder President of ICPH; Dr. Barun Sarkar from the Medical Intervention Team; and Dr.Roland Teprt, ENT and Paedaudiology from MIT, along with ENT specialists from PSG Hospitals, addressed the media and explained the vision and execution of the partnership. The beneficiary children, along with their parents, were also present at the press meeting and shared their experiences. One child said that she was astonished at how much she could hear in just one day. Another beneficiary shared, “I am now wearing a high-end hearing aid that allows me to adjust the settings. Even in noisy environments, I can filter out the noise and hear clearly.” Dr. Kezevino Aram, in her address, said, “We are changing the life of a child along with the child.” She noted that 30 hearing aids were provided last year, while the number has increased to 37 this year, and expressed hope that it would reach 100 next year. She further said that the initiative has reached many people across Tamil Nadu this year through WhatsApp, leading to large participation in screening camps. “We have shortlisted vulnerable individuals, and they will be provided hearing aids next year,” she said. Highlighting the follow-up efforts, she said the organisations do not stop with just providing hearing aids. “We continue to follow up with the beneficiaries. PSG and ICPH carry out regular follow-ups, and MIT also provides batteries for the hearing aids to the beneficiaries,” she added. Speaking about the screening process, she said that Shanti Ashram conducts screenings in schools and through camps, and also collects beneficiary lists from government sources and clinical references. She shared that no child should be left behind. “India has the largest child population, and through this initiative, we can help shape a better future,” she added. Dr. Bhuvaneswaran said that a newborn’s hearing will be tested within 30 days of birth. He added that an ENT examination is essential before a child is sent to school. Speaking about the collaboration, he thanked the Medical Intervention Team (MIT) and Shanti Ashram for their support. Dr. Barun Sarkar said that taking care of children’s sensory organs is crucial for their overall development. He noted that hearing plays a vital role in human connection. He also shared that each hearing aid costs around 950 euros and affirmed that the team would continue the project in the coming years.                               Cumulatively, in its 3 years, the partnership has successfully led: Four International Exchanges between Healthcare providers from Germany and India. Trained over 100 frontline workers to advance early detection of Eye & ENT challenges Co-organised the Global Classroom Oration & an Interactive Knowledge Update with postgraduate medical students. Delivered focused screening services for children with hearing disability, including provision of bilateral hearing aids and batteries worth INR 1.79 crores, as well as establishing the screening infrastructure & equipment at ICPH Covered 60,000 children through the screening programmes in 100 schools for vision and ENT challenges across the Perur and Madukkarai Blocks” 43 children in the first two years and 35 children in 2025-26 have joined the cohort of 78 children who now have received bilateral hearing aids with batteries for the whole year. The MIT team gifted high-quality equipment for screening of children in 2024 and 2025, worth Rs.36 lakhs, to ICPH and PSG Hospitals. Advance the coverage of the services for vulnerable children with hearing disabilities through ICPH, Shanti Ashram, the District administration led by the Collector, like-minded voluntary organisations working for children with disabilities and partner schools, both Government & private, shared in the press release.  

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