Resumption of electronic cochlear implants for children in t

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported the resumption of the electronic cochlear implant program after a forced interruption of three years due to security conditions and the ongoing war. The project, in its current phase, aims to perform 50 surgical operations for children suffering from hearing loss, in an attempt to reduce the long waiting lists that include more than 180 children in urgent need of this medical intervention, according to World Health Organization estimates. Mahmoud Al-Yaacoubi, project manager and representative of 'Esteemed' Medical Solutions, explained that the cessation of surgical services in recent years coincided with an increase in cases of hearing impairment resulting from explosions and the horrors of war. He pointed out that the electronic cochlear implant represents a lifeline for these children, as it transfers them from a world of silence to the ability to communicate and integrate into schools and kindergartens, which reduces the significant psychological and financial burdens borne by their families. This medical program is being implemented in joint cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the 'My Right to Hear' Association, and 'American Near East Refugee Aid' (ANERA), with the active participation of a specialized Russian medical delegation working alongside local Palestinian cadres. The surgical operation goes beyond mere medical intervention, as it is followed by crucial stages that include device programming and auditory and verbal rehabilitation to ensure children's response and proper development of their language skills. For their part, the parents of the beneficiary children confirmed that the treatment journey does not end upon leaving the operating room, but rather begins with facing the challenges of providing periodic supplies such as batteries, wires, and magnets. The father of the child Mona Skik pointed out that the high costs of rehabilitation and the difficulty of obtaining programming services for some types of devices within the Strip impose additional restrictions, as some families are forced to search for technical solutions outside Gaza due to the lack of specialized equipment. Restoring hearing does not only result in medical benefits, but also extends to improving the child's ability to learn and social participation and reducing the risks of hearing loss.