“Emaar” signs a memorandum of understanding to perform cochlear implants.

Within the activities of the (Rehabilitation of Cochlear Implant and Hearing Impaired Children) project implemented by Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation with generous funding from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development – Kuwait; Emaar’s administration in its headquarters in Khan Yunis signed an agreement with “Astemed for Medical and Hearing Solutions”; agents of MED-EL in Palestine, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of cochlear electronic devices. The signing ceremony was attended from Emaar by Dr. Samir Musa. The Board Member, and Mr. Imad Eslam, “Deputy General Manager of Emaar”, and from “Astemed” company, Mr. Tariq Tarbak, The financial and Administrative Director.

About the details, Dr. Samir said that this agreement includes performing 12 cochlear implants for children with hearing disabilities; where these processes will ensure that children are transferred from a life of brutal silence because of disability; to the blessing of hearing, interacting with others, and being self-reliant. Dr. Samir added that the next step is to complete the coordination process with the gentlemen in the Ministry of Health, with whom Emaar is proud to partner and work under their umbrella to start performing surgeries.

For his part, Mr. Esleem said: “Emaar” follows international procedures and protocols in the field of cochlear implants, which begins with diagnosis and careful examination, and passes through the process of -aural/oral rehabilitation for the child after wearing the hearing aids, and ends with the necessary medical and audio examinations; leading at the end to the cochlear implant procedure, where all these steps pass under the supervision of a working team and committees specialized in this field.

Dr. Samir thanked and appreciated the State of Kuwait, the King, the Government, and the people for their unlimited support and their great keen interest in helping the people of the Gaza Strip; he especially thanked and appreciated the honorable gentlemen of the management of The Arab Bank for Economic and Social Development – Kuwait; for their keenness and their great and permanent interest in financing qualitative and pioneering projects to serve the local community in the Gaza Strip, especially those with disabilities.

Emaar receives a delegation of the parents of children with cochlear implants

At its headquarters in Khan Yunis Governorate, Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation received a delegation of the parents of children with cochlear implants in the Gaza Strip. They were received by the Deputy General Manager of Emaar Mr. Emad Isleem, and the Administrative Assistant, Ms. Halima Al-Salmi, who accompanied them on an introductory tour of Emaar’s centers and facilities before the meeting.

Mr. Esleem welcomed the visiting delegation, providing a brief introduction about Emaar Association, and its most prominent public services; the talk focused more on the Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy, the projects and services the center provides, especially in the field of hearing impairment, and the latest project Emaar is implementing through Basma Center, which includes electronic cochlear implants for a group of children.

In turn, the visiting delegation, through Eng. Mohamed Skaik, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation, which he described as the pioneering and distinguished association in serving children with cochlear implants and their families as well, calling for the continuity of the qualitative and important services Emaar provides to this category, which is considered one of the marginalized groups and deserves attention at the highest levels.

Skaik indicated that the final touches are being put in place to launch an official gathering group called “The Gathering Group of the Families of Children With Cochlear Implants in the Gaza Strip”. Noting that the group’s primary role will be to serve children with cochlear implants and their valued parents.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Esleem confirmed that Emaar was, is, and will continue to be a strong supporter of children with disabilities in general, including hearing disabilities, in several fields such as education (through its affiliated Basma School), in addition to rehabilitation and care through its various centers.

Hearing Detection and Early Intervention for Hearing Impairment for Newborns

The Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy, affiliated with the Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation, has begun implementing the Qatar Red Crescent Foundation-funded project: audio detection and early intervention for hearing impairment in newborns in Gaza.

Basma Center began conducting audiological examinations for children who were transferred from the project’s targeted clinics, according to Emaar’s Deputy Director-General, Emad Esleem.

Emaar is collaborating with five of the ten clinics chosen for this project. These clinics are distributed evenly between government and UNRWA clinics across the Gaza Strip’s governorates, mainly the central region, Khan Younis and Rafah. According to Esleem, there will be audiological examinations for newborns who have hearing issues during their initial examination at the clinic. These examinations are taken place during the newborn’s first week of vaccinations. If the examination results are negative, the child is transferred to Emaar to undergo more accurate and consistent tests in a more specialized environment with more advanced devices, such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR), to determine whether or not they have hearing problems.

Esleem confirmed that hearing aids will be installed behind the children’s ears in the future phases of the project for those who are found to have hearing loss. The project also includes audio-verbal rehabilitation sessions for the children and their families, hearing aid programming and follow-up sessions, several awareness sessions, and the distribution of a set of educational brochures on hearing problems.





Emaar receives a delegation from the Gazzella Foundation


The administration of the Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation welcomed at its headquarters, in Khan Younis, the Gazzella Foundation (Italy)’s representative, Mrs. Giudetta Pratini. Emaar’s administration represented by the general manager, Mr. Anwar Abu Musa, stated that the visit is part of the follow-up of the project of sponsoring children with cochlear implants who are being rehabilitated at the Basma Center and School affiliated with the association. Recalling that the Gazzella Foundation sponsors 33 children with cochlear implants and hard of hearing to cover their rehabilitation and educational expenses. It is worth noting that the project started 9 years ago and still going.

For her part, Mrs. Prattini praised the wonderful efforts made by the Emaar Association in the field of rehabilitation and education for the category of people with disabilities and the remarkable improvement in the mental, sensory, and cognitive abilities of the target groups. On the other hand, Ms. Hana Abu Oda, project coordinator in the association, indicated that the visit of the representative of the Gazzalia Foundation comes within a series of periodic visits carried out by the Foundation to follow up on the progress of the project and its periodic evaluation; where Mrs. Prattini met with a group of sponsored children and listened to their needs. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Anwar praised the efforts of the Gazzella Foundation in serving people with disabilities and stressed the consensus between the two parties on the continuation of cooperation and coordination between the two parties to serve the target groups.

Basma Center Holds a Course on the ABR Device

Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy held a course on the ABR device, trained by Dr. Ramadan Hussein, an Audiologist.

The center’s staff and a group of graduates of Audiology attended the course, which lasted for three days.

The course was to train the team on operating and using the ABR device.

Dr. Wael Abo Nammos, a board member, said that this course is part of the activities of “Cochlear Implant for Children with Hearing Impairment” project.

Supplying the ABR Device

 

Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation supplies the ABR device for Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy.

 

Emad Isleem, the manager of the rehabilitation department of Emaar, said that supplying the ABR device was part of “Cochlear Implant for Children with Hearing Impairment” project.

The device is going to be used in the early detection of hearing disorders.

In this context, Emad confirmed that in the next few days Basma team will be trained on using the ABR device before the service is officially approved within the center’s services.

 

 

 

Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy Distributes Hearing Aids, Funded by Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development

 

With a generous fund from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Basma Center distributed hearing aids to a group of children suffering from hearing loss, in the presence of Dr. Mohammad Zaqout, the General Manager of Nasser Medical Complex, and the Board members of Emaar headed by Eng. Abdullah Albohiri, the Vice President, and the families of the targeted children.

32 hearing aids were distributed for 17 children, from the southern governorates, as a part of “Cochlear Implant for Children with Hearing Impairment ”  project.

Emaar Welcomes a Delegation from the UNICEF

Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation welcomes a delegation from the UNICEF, represented by Ms. Amani Jouda, childhood and nutrition officer, and Dr. Safaa Abo Orof, childhood protection officer.

During their visit, the delegation made a tour inside Basma Special School and Emaar’s centers to learn about the services provided by the Association.

Ms. Amani also expressed her pride in such Association that works with a clear vision and mission and targets one of the most marginalized groups in the Gaza Strip.

 

A Qatari Medical Delegation Visits Emaar Association

A Qatari medical delegation visited Emaar Association for Development and Rehabilitation to learn about the conditions of children with cochlear implants and hearing impairment who receive rehabilitation and education services at Emaar centers.

The delegation included Dr. Khaled Abd Al Hadi, the Head of Hearing and Balance Unit at Hamad Medical Corporation, and Dr. Mohammad Murad, the ENT Consultant at the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Khaled Abd Al Hadi said that the Qatari cooperation in the Gaza Strip has contributed to conducting 150 surgeries for children with hearing impairment and he was proud to say that the children are now able to hear and speak.

He also said: “During my health missions to the Middle East countries, I can say that Emaar is the first to provide excellent rehabilitation services despite the harsh conditions of the Gaza Strip”.

Basma Center Holds a Meeting to Select Candidates for the Hearing Aids Fitting

Basma Center for Audiology and Speech Therapy held a meeting to select candidates for the hearing aids fitting as part of “Cochlear Implants for Children with Hearing Impairment” project, funded by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development – Kuwait.

The meeting committee included a pediatrician, Dr. Wael Abo Nammos; a board member, Mr. Emaad Isleem; the manager of rehabilitation department, Dr. Riad Abo Shammalah; an otolaryngologist, and Dr. Ramadan Hussein; an audiologist.