Media Alert: Tygerberg Hospital Cochlear Implant Unit's 400th Hearing Impaired Patient to be Connected to Sound

On 24 January 2011, the Tygerberg Hospital Cochlear Implant Unit will perform their 400th cochlear implant. Connor Muller (five) of Plumstead will receive a cochlear implant that will ultimately improve his hearing, speech and language development. Remarkably, the same ear, nose and throat surgeon and audiologist who accomplished the first Nucleus cochlear implant procedure in South Africa almost 25 years ago, will also perform this operation, the 400th.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, congratulated the Cochlear Implant Unit on the 400th operation. "This means that the Unit has done more or less 16 cochlear implants per year, which is remarkable. I hope that through closer partnerships we are able to perform even more of these operations in the future."

You are invited to a photo opportunity of this historical moment before the surgeon, audiologist and patient enter the theatre.

Date: Monday, 24 January 2011

Time: 13:15

Venue: Theatre: Vergelegen MediClinic, Somerset West