Health ministry launches newborn hearing screening prog.

(With photos) KUWAIT, Sept 29 (KUNA) -- The newborn hearing screening is one of the health ministry's important programs aim at preserving health and safety of infants, minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah said Sunday.
The newborn hearing screening program is a major requirement of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Kuwait is among the top countries to implement this program on newborns, Sheikh Mohammad, also minister of state for cabinet affairs, said told reporters on sidelines of the inauguration of the newborn hearing screening program at Ghaneema Al-Ghanim Center.
He said the program will help early detection of hearing problems among newborn babies to facilitate their treatment.
Sheikh Mohammad also said ministries of health and educaiton launched eye test program for kindergarten students.
He said Kuwait was among top countries around the world with regards to vaccination program.
In his address at the launch of the newborn hearing screening program, Sheikh Mohammad said the program would allow early detection of partial or full hearing loss before carrying out necessary procedures in specialized hospitals or primary care clinics.
He said sustainable development depended on health.
For his part, chairman of the council of nose, ear and throat departments Dr. Basel Al-Sabah said the government was taking care of the citizen from the first day of birth.
Al-Sabah said the newborn hearing screening program was complying with the government's health preventive policy.
The program, he added, would help the medical staff determine the treatment of the newborn at early stages thus saving effort and money. (end) shd.bs KUNA 292142 Sep 13NNNN