ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) has entered into a partnership with a private hospital for providing cochlear implants to deaf and mute children.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for this purpose at the PBM headquarters here on Tuesday. PBM Managing Director Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and chairman of Ali Medical Centre (AMC) Dr Ali Raza Alvi signed the papers and exchanged notes.

According to the MoU, AMC will conduct 30 surgeries for cochlear implants every month, free of cost. Presently, there are more than 2,300 children registered with PBM; so far, 193 have been provided the implants. Moreover, AMC will also offer post-surgery rehabilitative measures like speech therapy for three years.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Abbas said PBM is promoting public private partnerships in order to speed up humanitarian activities throughout the country.

“Under the prime minister’s Ehsaas programme, cochlear implants are being provided to deaf and mute children enabling them to have happy and independent lives in the time to come,” he added and praised the private medical centre for its collaborative efforts in such a noble cause.

He termed this connection a glimmer of hope for children and parents, who are enrolled with PBM and waiting for this expensive life-changing device. The managing director emphasised that philanthropists and other donor agencies should make as many contributions as possible towards social welfare activities.

Dr Alvi admired the PBM’s initiative, which will spread smiles on the faces of mute and deaf children and their parents who cannot afford costly cochlear implants for their children. He also expressed his satisfaction on joining PBM and vowed to extend this partnership to other deserving patients as well.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2021