Muslims in Kumbo, Northwest Region of Cameroon have been encouraged to join the fight against

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in their families and community at large. Takwe Boniface, Programme Manager at the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services’ NCD Prevention and Control Programme made the call recently at Rogasa, Kumbo during a fund raising to improve community water supply.

In a health talk captioned, “Reducing your children’s stress and tears from NCDs after marriage”, Mr. Takwe stressed on the importance of premarital screening – testing couples who are planning to get married for common inherited blood disorders like sickle cell anemia as well as infections as hepatitis B, C and HIV.

“Premarital screening is recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization). It’s a vital process to prepare your child or children for a successful and happy home, so don’t neglect it,” Mr. Takwe cautioned.

While acknowledging that there is need to preserve cultural values, Mr. Takwe advised that practices that can negatively affect health of the next generation may need to be modified, if [they] we desire to see our children happy in their homes.

Apart from the emphasis on premarital counseling, Mr. Takwe hammered on one the programme’s vital service – KYN (Know You Numbers). “KYN is a service offered to the population where an apparently healthy individual’s vital health numbers are assessed to know if the client has developed or is at risk of developing NCD(s) as a result of the altered numbers,” explained Mr. Takwe.

Apart from assessing the vital health numbers during KYN screening, a lifestyle assessment of each member is assessed and counselling on lifestyle modifications given according to the numbers to reduce disease risk. He emphasized that the aim of this is to reduce the risk of NCDs.