Nkwen Baptist Health Center Acquires new NCD testing Paraphernalia
Nkwen Baptist Health Center (NBHC) has acquired a new device called the Keito Scale Machine, a first of its kind in the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services that permits the screening of body parameters of clients in a space of three minutes.
This equipment is currently being used in four other health facilities of the CBC Health Services namely: Bafoussam Baptist Health Centre (BBHC), Mboppi Baptist Hospital Doula (MBHD), Ekoundoum Baptist Health Centre (EBHC) and Baptist Hospital Mutengene (BHM).
The remarkable high-tech equipment gotten from a CBC Health Services partnership with Vital Strategies, an NGO working to improve on Cardiovascular health, was unveiled on September 15, 2019 at the NBHC in the presence of Dr. Epie Njume, General Supervisor of the CBC Health Services Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Program, the Administrator of NBHC, Mr. Kangong Joce, the Supervisor of Nursing services, Chimi Emerencia (Mrs), the Supervisor for Chaplaincy Services, Rev. Ndwang Simon and a cross section staff of the Health Centre.
The CEO of TEK Engineering and Licensed representative of Keito Manufacturers for Cameroon, Mr. Tekap Rodrigues, gave a detailed orientation on how the equipment operates, the services it offers, and ‘the dos and the don’ts’ when using the equipment. His orientation was concurred by Dr. Njume who in an eloquent tone gave the health personnel present, a lecture on the use of the machine in the screening for NCDs.
“The machine is intended for clients interested in screening for NCDs. The device will facilitate the Know Your Numbers screening (body mass index, blood pressure) and in addition, give an estimate of the percentage of body water and body fat content,” Njume pointed out while stating however that blood sugar testing, and waist circumference measurements will still be done through the normal procedures.
“The equipment is, however, not to be used by pregnant women and clients with heart implants, any devices which emit electric currents, because it uses electrical signals which go through the body and could be harmful to fetuses and cause a malfunctioning of any electrical implants. Regardless, I advise everyone to make use of this opportunity, to come do their test in a short space of time to know their risks of NCDs,” Dr. Njume added.
Dr Njume reiterated that the machine does not perform a “medical act” and must only be used for screening purposes and the results explained by health personnel.
As regards the use of the Keito Scale Machine, “It can be operated by the user as it is interactive; however, someone versed with operations is required to guide users through the various steps.. “The first step is by inserting a “coin” into the appropriate slot and second is step on the platform (don’t carry any objects like bags, phones or wearing a cap, or bracelet or watch on left wrist before mounting the platform) to have your weight and height measured, the third step is to insert your bare left forearm into the space with a cuff for measuring blood pressure. The fourth step is to hold on to metallic frames on the sides to enable measurement of body water/fat percentage, and the last step is to step off the platform, and collect your results and belongings. The device guides the user and/or operator through the steps by a voice output and picture display.
The equipment was dedicated to God Almighty by the chaplain of the Health Centre while the Administrator of the Health Center called on staff to use the high-tech with care and to serve the public in order to reduce the incidence of NCDs in the country and region in particular.