The Dr Tom's Infant Hearing Screening Programme was formally opened on Friday the 20th of March 2009 at Ravensmead clinic in Cape Town. This is one of eight clinics in each of the eight districts comprising the City of Cape Town in which the pilot phase of the programme will be conducted before it may be rolled out to many more clinics. The Executive Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, the Chairman of the Health Portfolio Committee, and the Mayoral Committee Member for Health all addressed the guests at the landmark official opening of the screening programme. 

Early identification and diagnosis of infant hearing loss through such programmes create the opportunity for children with hearing loss to have equal opportunities to develop alongside their normal hearing peers in an integrated manner.

This is the first formalized infant hearing screening programme at clinics supported by government - the City of Cape Town Municipality in this case. Ms Niki Friderichs is coordinating the role-out of this important project and is conducting her postgraduate studies under Prof De Wet Swanepoel at the Department of Communication Pathology on this initiative. The study is also supported by the Medical Research Council of South Africa.

 

* Backrow: Cllr James Vos (Chairman, Health Portfolio Committee), Cllr Martin Fienies (Mayoral Committee Member for Health), Sr. Ratsibe, Sr. Kwini, Sr. Nonkonyana, Sr. Adams, Mr. Jaboda

* Frontrow: Cllr Grant Haskin (Executive Deputy Mayor of Cape Town), mum Charlene Samuels with baby Devon, Niki Friderichs