Project “Jagriti”, undertaken by Dr. SRCISH, is aimed at prevention of hearing impairment. This is an ongoing project funded by Cristoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), Germany. The project began in July 1998, as a WHO initiative under "Prevalence and Prevention of Deafness", and during the initial 2 1/2 years the aim was conduct a total population survey in 3 villages of K.R. Puram in order to obtain data on prevalence of hearing impairment. Since 2001, the project team has covered 20 villages, serving a population of about 66,000 individuals. In addition to hearing impairment, physical, visual and mental disabilities are identified and the necessary steps for rehabilitation are taken up at the village level. Auditory training, speech therapy, physiotherapy, as well as vocational training are being carried out. With the aim of primary prevention, several awareness and focus group meetings (parents, aganwadi teachers, schoolteachers, and volunteers) are held regularly. Self-help groups for the disabled have also come into existence. The project staff includes 2 social workers, an ENT doctor, 4 field workers and a driver working under the supervision of the Project Director.
The main objective of this project was to examine the effects of digital hearing aid benefits on quality of life. This is an ongoing project, where hearing aids are provided by Seimens (free of cost) to profound or severe HI adults in the lower socio-economic groups. In addition to the provision of these hearing devices, the company has also undertaken the responsibility of the paying for the subsequent expenditure in fitting and maintenance of these devices.
