Lau (second right) presents the ABR machine to Dr Teo. United People’s Party (UPP) Pelawan chairperson Kapitan Datuk Janet Lau is at left while Dr Toh is at right.
SIBU: Sibu Hospital will start screening every newborn at the hospital for hearing problems from next month — the first hospital in the state to do so.
Sibu Hospital and Agape Centre paediatric specialist Associate Prof Dr Toh Tech Hock said the screenings will use a RM50,000 Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) equipment donated by Datin Sri Wong Suk Ting — the widow of KTS Group of Companies founder Dato Sri Lau Hui Kang.
“There are 5,000 babies born in Sibu Hospital every year. Out of that, 0.1 per cent or one to two in 1,000 babies are born with hearing problems. In the central region alone, we are talking about between 10 and 20 children detected with hearing problems every year,” he told reporters after Wong’s eldest son Temenggong Vincent Lau presented the ABR equipment to Sibu Hospital deputy director Dr Nolan Teo.
“So far we’ve only screened those we think are at risk, meaning babies with certain features and those with high risk because of brain injury. Now we want to do it on every single baby.
“Hearing problems can be detected at the time they are born. With early detection, we can find early solutions,” added Dr Toh.
Lau said such donations were among the ways the community could support the hospital.
“We can have good doctors but we also need good equipment. We hope with our effort, it will encourage and motivate others to help the hospital,” he said.
Two years ago, KTS Group also donated breathing apparatus to Sibu Hospital.