Deaf, dumb girl treated in presence of Nawaz, Maryam

ISLAMABAD: It was a memorable moment here at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday when sophisticated Cochlear implanted in head of six year old born deaf and dumb cute girl Nida Khan was activated in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Ms. Maryam Nawaz in the chamber of the premier.

It provided speaking and listening skills to the girl who is the lone child of poor parents belonging to Mardan (KP province). State Minister CADD Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, who introduced the girl on 11th of January this year during a ceremony where 200 buses were handed over to schools of the federal capital, was also present.

Nida, in her innocent sign language, greeted the prime minister in the function on behalf of challenged children present on the occasion in large number in the ground of a local school. Nida Khan charmed everyone present in the function as Prime Minister Nawaz and Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif held her in their lap and got cake cutting ceremony performed by her.

The affection of father and daughter towards the innocent soul impressed the large crowd that profusely clapped when Prime Minister Nawaz and Nida waved their hands to express solidarity with thousands students of Islamabad. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Political Affairs Dr. Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani and Mayor Islamabad Ansar Aziz Sheikh were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was pleased to meet Nida Khan at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, after her successful surgery. The prime minister was immensely pleased to receive the treated child who will be able to listen and speak.

The prime minister was briefed that Nida Khan will be fully rehabilitated with the assistance of speech therapist within a period of 1 to 2 years.

Dr. Muhammad Irfan E&N specialist helped in switching on the implanted Cochlear. As it was activated Nida for the first time heard worldly voice amid clapping and thanks giving verses from the Holy Quran. The prime minister was briefed that since Nida Khan is an intelligent child therefore her recovery is quite speedy.

Ms. Maryam Nawaz took personal interest in the treatment of young Nida as she has been steering the free health schemes for the poor and needy. She choreographed the schemes now spreading across the country. After the event of January 11, the prime minister enquired about the disability and medical reasons that barred the six year old Nida Khan’s speech. The prime minister was told that the child was born with the profound disability to either speak or listen. He directed for setting up a public sector’s Cochlear Implant Centre for treatment of hearing impaired children. Under the directions of the prime minister, Executive Director of Capital Hospital constituted a special medical board in February 2017.

Expenses incurred on such treatments are to be borne from the Prime Minister’s Fund as the board is mandated for receiving cases from the poor families who cannot afford the costly treatment from their own resources. The Capital Hospital and Special Education Centre work in collaboration on this initiative and are duly represented in the special board. The hospital executes the surgical part and implanting the device while the services of audiologist and speech therapist are carried out by the Special Education Centre.

London based surgeon doctor Muhammad Iqbal who visits Pakistan time to time for implanting such devices performed surgery upon Nida on February 22, 2017 for embedding a Cochlear implant (CIs); a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is completely deaf.

The parents of Nida Khan who basically belong to District Mardan, KP were profoundly grateful to the prime minister for the treatment of their child. Nida Khan’s father is motor engine mechanic who lives in the suburb of Islamabad in Bharakahu in a small house.