Gostivar, 18 September 2024 (MIA) – Health Minister Arben Taravari while visiting on Wednesday the Rehabilitation Center for Speech Pathology in Skopje, unveiled a new audiometry room and state-of-the-art equipment, aimed at improving work with children experiencing speech difficulties and supporting center’s staff.

“Today, we are unveiling a new audiometry room, complete with a new audiometric device that fulfills all the necessary audiological criteria. This center provides treatment to 3,000 children each year,” Taravari said.

He also expressed his pleasure with the fact that the center has a sufficiently trained staff, including experts trained at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb - Rebro to work with children who have cochlear implants. The new equipment has greatly enhanced the conditions for patient care.

The director of the center, Nermin Telovska, also expressed gratitude for the new equipment, stating that the new audiometry room meets all criteria and standards regarding acoustics and service provision. She noted that the center has been in existence for sixty-one years and focuses on the early detection and treatment of hearing and speech-language disorders.

Responding to reporters’ questions, she mentioned that there is enough staff and that discussions with Health Minister have been held about introducing a second shift.

Director Telovska noted that modern lifestyles and frequent use of electronic devices could impact the nervous system, resulting in an increase in the number of children with developmental difficulties.

She also stressed the importance of taking preventive action.

"We have a program with the Ministry of Health that involves preventive examinations in kindergartens and schools, allowing us to cover a wide range of activities. Our goal is to expand this part of our work. We can identify at-risk children as early as birth, and that’s where preventive efforts should begin. Our preference is to focus on prevention rather than treatment," stated Nermin Telovska, Director of the Rehabilitation Center for Speech Pathology.

According to Minister Taravari, the status of 13 staff members working under contract basis at the centre should be resolved soon.

Photo: MIA