'SAHI' Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired

S.No.	Date	Place
1	2^nd April 2006	Camp at Cherial, Janagam, Warangal Dist.
2	21^st May 2006	Camp at Kondapuram, Kadapa Dist.
3	27^th May 2006	'Gift A Ear' Project
4	3^rd September 2006	Bahadurpet, Nalgonda Dist.
5	4^th November 2006	Nawabpeta, Mahabubnagar Dist.
6	5^th November 2006	Mahabubnagar Dist.
7	19^th November 2006	Raja Foundation, Kadapa Dist.
8	13th December, 2006	Kothakota, Mahabubnagar Dist.

On the invitation of Mr. Lakshma Reddy, President Jana Vignana Vedika, Janagam, SAHI organized a camp in collaboration with Lion’s Club, Cherial and Venkata Sai Nursing Home, Cherial. The camp was advertised through banners put up in and around the Cherial helped to reach out to people in remote areas. Volunteers from the local Jana Vignana Vedika and Lion’s Club helped the hearing impaired children with no access to modern medical help to reach the camp . It was a result of their hard work and dedication that a large number of poor and needy children gathered at the camp for treatment.

SAHI team consisting of 19 Volunteers including ENT specialists, Audiologists and other supporting team reached the camp at 10.30 am. A small meeting was conducted by Lion’s club, Cherial. People were educated about the importance of hearing, prevention of hearing impairment. Later in the evening hearing aids were distributed. Parents of children selected for surgery were briefed about necessary medical check ups and how to reach Apollo hospital in Secunderabad.

On behalf of the ‘Devagudi Shankara Reddy, Subbarami Reddy’ Memorial Trust Sri. Adi Narayana Reddy, MLA invited SAHI to participate in the Mega Multi Super Speciality Camp at Zilla Parishad School,Kondapuram, Kadapa district.

Camp started at 10:00 hrs and closed at 16:00 hrs. Dr. Jaswinder Singh asked each surgery case (total 08) to complete necessary medical checkup and visit Apollo Hospital on the specific dates given to them.

In evening Meeting was held in which 04 Hearing Aids were distributed by Sri. M. Raghunatha Reddy Ex-MLA of Kondapuram. Mr. Ananth, audiologist explained to the patients about the usage of hearing aids and its precautions.

Sahi launched the ‘Gift a Ear Project’ on 27th May, 2006. The program commenced at 6.30 P.M. at the Food Court in Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills with a welcome address by Mrs. Sunita Reddy. This was followed by a power point presentation by Dr. E.C. Vinaya Kumar, Secretary detailing the activities of SAHI for the past few months and presenting its future plans. He also gave a brief demonstration of the process of Cochlear Implant Surgery.

Ms. Smitha, the popular pop singer and the brand ambassador for SAHI was then invited on stage by Dr. Vinaya Kumar to say a few words. Ms. Smitha addressed the gathering and exhorted the people to contribute generously. She later invited Ms. Jhansi, the well known T.V. Anchor to the stage and introduced her as the brand ambassador for the ‘Cochlear Implant Club’ which was inaugurated previously by the Hon’ble Speaker, Mr. K.R. Suresh Reddy.

Ms. Jhansi spoke eloquently of the need to address the problem of hearing impairment. She explained the process of a Cochlear Implant Surgery in layman’s terms. She also interviewed a few Cochlear Implantees and their immediate family members. The audience was able to see the effect of the implants on persons who were totally deaf previously.

Ms. Jhansi then invited Mr. G. Janardhan Reddy a prominent industrialist from Bellary to unveil the ‘Gift a Ear Project’. After this formality was completed, Mr. Janardhan Reddy handed over a cheque of Rs.10, 00,000/- to the members of SAHI towards sponsoring five Cochlear Implant Surgeries. He further declared that he would contribute a similar sum every year for the next four years.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy later released the poster of Smitha which will be kept in clinics for information to the public. The other special invitee Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh, former Ranji Cup player, released a brochure of the ‘Gift a Ear Project’ while Mr. S. Divaker Reddy, the patron of SAHI released the brochures in Telugu made by the ENT specialists at SAHI regarding early detection and intervention of hearing impairment primarily meant for people in the rural areas.

The E.N.T specialists Dr. Ram Babu and Dr. E.C Vinaya Kumar felicitated the present and previous donors of SAHI.

SAHI conducted an Ear Camp on 3^rd September 2006 at Bahadurpet, Nalogonda Dist. in association with Sri Satya Sai Seva Samiti, Uppal.

On the occasion of 2^nd anniversary celebrations SAHI launched ‘Deaf Free Mandal Project’ in Nawabpet mandal of the backward district of Mahaboobnagar on 4^th Nov 2006 in association with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Mahaboobnagar.

Under this project 425 people were screened for hearing problems in ZPH School, Nawabpet. In the evening a meeting was arranged in which Mr. D. Sudarshan, Assist. Director for Disabled released the ‘Deaf Free MANDAL’ poster. Mr. SA. Khureshi, MRO and Ms. Bhagyalakshmi, MDO also joined the celebrations. 14 Hearing Aids were distributed by the dignitaries on the dais which were donated by Mr. Shyamsunder a donor of SAHI.

On 5^th Nov 2006 SAHI conducted a Free Medical camp in Sri Sathya Sai Mandir, Mahaboobnagar in association with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Mahaboobnagar dist. Total of 212 patients were screened for hearing problems. 15 Hearing Aids were distributed through SAHI by the Sevadal of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi.

On request made by Mr. Raja, President of Raja Foundation, SAHI conducted camp on 19^th November 2006 at Mylavaram Kadapa Dist. A 5 member team of SAHI screened 243 orphans in the age group of 3 to 22 years including HIV patients. Suggessions on general hygiene and hearing problems were given to the staff & teachers working in the foundation.

On request made by Pastor Jagadish Singh of Cross Power Church & President of New Heart Foundation, SAHI participated in the camp at Kothakota, Mahabubnagar dist.