Ear specialists launch society

From: Gulf Daily News - Manama,Bahrain - Jan 26, 2006

By REBECCA TORR

A SOCIETY dedicated to supporting people with hearing impairment has been launched in Bahrain.

The newly-established Bahrain Society for Cochlear Implantation and Hearing Impairment aims to support children and adults to obtain hearing aids, cochlear (inner ear) implants and other new advances in the field.

"We have children that are in need of cochlear implants and hearing aids, so we will help to raise money for them," said society president and Salmaniya Medical Complex Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultant Dr Ahmed Jamal.

"We will also try to help adults find jobs and help in early detection programmes.

"We want to help families get involved in rehabilitation activities and increase awareness of hearing impairment in families and the community."

Dr Jamal, who has been working in the field of hearing impairment since 1986, said he had been trying to establish the society since 2001 when the Health Ministry first started the cochlear implant programme.

"Now we have 34 members and we are still getting applicants," Dr Jamal told the GDN.

"Anyone interested and is involved in helping people with hearing impairment are welcome to join."

Meanwhile, the society elected an executive board with Dr Jamal as president at its first general assembly meeting held at the Rufaida Building, Salmaniya.

Others on the executive board include vice-president Esa Ahmed Rabie, secretary Mohammed Hassan Ali, treasurer Omar Yassin Al Sharif, and members Dr Abdulrahman Mohammed Gareeb, Esa Abdulla Mohammed and Ebrahim Al Mouali.

Standby members are Moosa Jaffar Madan, Jaffar Hussain Abdulla, Adel Saeed Hassan and Dr Rehab Marzoq Al Marzoq.

The activity committees will be nominated in a later meeting.

The general assembly meeting was held under supervision of Social Development Ministry representative Mohammed Al Shaibani.

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