We have tested the hearing of 6 809 197 children (and counting, with over a thousand babies, welcomed to the world at Polish hospitals)! Thanks to the nationwide medical initiative, we could check the hearing of nearly all children born in Poland. Our medical records show that we have tested the ears of Ms Janina's little girl on 13.09.2016 in Cieszyn. She was our five millionth child to be tested!
One can even say that our screening tests can serve as a birth census in public hospitals in Poland because, since the launch of the programme in 2002, we have successfully tested the hearing of nearly all newborns! In addition, we bought over 2 000 medical devices and spent over PLN 68 million on the equipment and running of the programme.
Thanks to the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, we can now say that almost every child born in Poland is tested to detect hearing defects. It is essential to diagnose such impairments as early as possible to treat the child and develop normally and prevent severe hearing loss. Moreover, the test is painless and is performed in the first days of a child's life.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity took up the challenge of implementing this nationwide program in 2002. Since then, over 5 million newborns have had their hearing tested. In a continuous effort to improve the health of children born in Poland, the GOCC Foundation has not only introduced the tests, provided the equipment, and trained the personnel, but also helped establish and equip 390 facilities that run the tests and helped to establish and equip 94 medical facilities where children with hearing defects can be treated further.
Our databases receive nearly one thousand test results from clinics across the country every day.
The digital PET-CT scanner is a device which allows highly accurate and detailed imaging of tumour foci in children bodies. This equipment purchased by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation for nearly PLN 16 mln is the most expensive machine in the history of the GOCC.
