PESHAWAR, Aug 11: The Khyber Medical University will conduct a nationwide survey to ascertain the number of people afflicted with the problems of hearing and make recommendations to the government for making a policy regarding their treatment, welfare and education.

There is no data available about the number of the people suffering from deafness or hearing problems. However, an estimated 12 million people have been facing hearing problems, according to officials of Khyber Medical University (KMU).

In this connection, a task force, including representatives of Ministry of Health, Islamabad, Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, Higher Education, University of Punjab, World Health Organisation, special persons and relevant doctors had already been formed that would carry out the first ever national survey about the number of people with hearing problems. In the light of the proposed survey, recommendations regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of such people would be forwarded to the government to initiate a special programme for them.

Officials said that most of the people facing hearing problems were curable and the survey would help the government to have a clear picture about the prevalence of hearing problems among the population. Some of those people, they said, could be treated or rehabilitated through simple treatment or provision of devices.

Members of the task force, officials said, had been asked to establish contacts with the members of the national as well as provincial assemblies to arrange funds for the survey. Once the funds were made available, a design for the survey would be drafted that would be applied throughout the country, they added.

Officials said that modern technology would be used to make the maiden national survey regarding hearing problems more authentic and reliable. They said that representatives of the deaf persons would also be made part of the survey.

The educational needs of the people with hearing problems would also be identified and recommendations would be made to the government on scientific lines regarding the education of these persons. Additionally, efforts would be made to sensitise the government on the needs of such persons and design special syllabus for them, they added.

Officials said that legislation aimed at improving the conditions of those people would also be put before the government after the completion of the survey. The government would be asked to form a special committee on national level to pursue the welfare, treatment and rehabilitation of such people through various interventions.

The survey, they said, was primarily aimed at persuading the government and policymakers to formulate a specific policy for those people.