Abu Dhabi University has launched a campaign to make cochlear implants cheaper for those with hearing loss in the UAE.
The UAE Hears the World Initiative is a new project in tandem with Swiss company Neubio, which produces electronic-free earpieces.
It will include donating 50 implants to various groups across the UAE and around the world to support people in need ahead of Ramadan this month.
The earpieces will be donated to organisations participating in the campaign.
The price of cochlear implants range from $27,000 to $68,000 in the UAE, which includes the cost of surgery and the device itself, which, depending on the model, come with a $20,000 to $30,000 price tag.
Under the new initiative, where they will be produced domestically, they are expected to cost $10,000 to $12,000.
These are made-in-UAE cochlear implants, based on Swiss technology or European technology, which is new
Dr Montasir Qasymeh,
Abu Dhabi University
Dr Montasir Qasymeh, associate provost for research, innovation and academic development at the Abu Dhabi University, said the partners were still being sought to help with mass production of the devices.
"These are made-in-UAE cochlear implants, based on Swiss technology or European technology, which is new. So this is going to be made available. We are now in the process of communicating with authorities," he told The National.
"It's a new trend that we are starting. The university is hosting a high-tech company and collaborating with governmental entities to bring in new technology.
"Having a high-tech company in a university collaborating with a hospital and supported by the Ministry of Economy has never happened before."
The UAE Hears the World Initiative launched in February.
The company's affordable hearing aids are electronic-free, which reduces the risks associated with electronic failure and the need for revision surgery.
It is also designed to be compact, offering surgeons greater flexibility during procedures and reducing surgery time under anaesthesia with less drilling.
Its technology uses a digital-to-analogue electric simulation, which provides users with a full-spectrum hearing experience that closely mimics natural hearing.
Dr Qasymeh said the implants would first be made available to Emiratis and then to residents at a later date.
He said their plan is to eventually ensure that the cochlear implants are included within medical insurance plans.
About 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, while at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation, the World Health Organisation says.
More than 5 per cent of the world's population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address some loss of hearing. These include 34 million children.
It is estimated that by 2050 more than 700 million people – or one in 10 – will have disabling hearing loss.
The WHO says annual additional investment of less than $1.40 per person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally.
Over a 10-year period, this promises a return of nearly $16 for every dollar invested.
Joshua Chang, director of global impact at Neubio, said the company hopes their devices can reach underserved communities.
Through the initiative, Neubio aims to make hearing solutions accessible to people regardless of their economic status and is committed to providing the implant device at a significantly reduced cost.
"The initiative promotes both medical device innovation and humanitarian efforts," said Mr Chang.
Mr Chang said the aim was to break free from the constraints of high-cost devices and enable production of advanced technology within local communities, thus serving those who could not previously afford or have access to these implants.
"We aim to enhance the accessibility of cochlear implants by offering them at a price range of $10,000 to $12,000," said Mr Chang.
"Generally, the cost of implants range from $20,000 to $30,000.
"The realisation of this goal depends on the terms of our partnerships, the support to expand the patient base and our capacity to manufacture locally here in the UAE."
Mr Chang said the cost of cochlear implants in the UAE can vary based on factors such as the type of implant, the hospital or clinic providing the implantation surgery and additional services included in the treatment package.
"Beyond offering a more affordable cochlear implant solution, we're showcasing the UAE's capability to contribute to global healthcare solutions by locally producing an assistive device in high demand worldwide," he said.
Mr Chang said by manufacturing in the UAE, Neubio can eliminate the need for importing devices and can cater to the GCC region and Mena countries where individuals face barriers accessing inexpensive implant options.
The implants have already been approved by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Mr Chang added, and a pilot programme is now being lined up.
He said the company was in the process of teaming up with government agencies, healthcare and corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners in the UAE.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
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- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
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Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
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Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
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Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
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According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
