Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A joint project of Zamin Foundation, the Ministry of Health and RSNPMC Pediatrics Centre "Implementation of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening" has developed a mechanism and set up monitoring and analysis system for hearing screening in medical institutions of Tashkent.

All newborns in 19 maternity facilities have been undergoing hearing screening since 2020. The establishment of a universal hearing screening system is continuing.

The project plans to involve 227 maternity institutions throughout the country. All newborn babies will be screened, and if hearing abnormalities are detected, follow-up examinations and monitoring will be recommended to parents.

According to the Zamin Foundation’s press service, about 700 medical staff will be trained in the use of audiological screening equipment. The project envisages the introduction of a unified tracking and information collection system throughout the country and the creation of a documentation system to monitor the quality of screening.

Hearing screening of newborns is an important early identification procedure to minimise the consequences of hearing loss in a child. It should be carried out for all newborns as early as the first days of life.