The team consisting of Prof Dr Wolfgang Gstottner – ORL Clinic, Vienna University, Op. Dr. Dritan Vasili – ORL Surgeon, American Hospital, Prof Dr Pjerin Radovani – ORL Clinic of the University Hospital Center “Nënë Tereza”, Dr. Edlira Beqiri – ORL Doctor, American Hospital, have successfully operated on Manuela Harizi – 4 years old, born without hearing abilities and Roland Dollani – 57 years old, who had lost completely his hearing during the last years.

The two implants, whose costs reach the amount of 70 thousand Euros, are a result of the long work done by the team of the American Hospital in cooperation with the ORL clinic at the QSUT. The surgery of the 4 year old girl, Manuela Harizi, was made possible by the Foundation for Albanian Children with President Mrs. Liri Berisha. A special contribution in realizing this intervention is given by the Austrian Company MED – EL, which donated the implant equipment for both patients.

The cochlear implant, applied in the American Hospital, apart from being the first intervention of this type in the country, is very important even because it is programmed for Albanian speaking persons.

The two operated patients have been visited several hours after the intervention from the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and from his lady Liri Berisha, as well as from the Minister of Health, Petrit Vasili. After visiting the patients and getting information for their condition after the surgery, Prime Minister Berisha expressed his thanks to the hospital team and especially to the Viennese doctor Prof Dr Wolfgang Gstottner, whose work shall change completely the life of both patients suffering for years from complete absence of hearing.

During this visit, the Austrian doctor Wolfgang Gstottner expressed his pleasure that the surgery was ended in full success and in a few weeks the patients will be able to hear again.