A group of 14 medics has been empowered on how to use ultra sound technology, commonly referred to as Ecography to treat patients.

The 14 were trained during a workshop at the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, Health Services Complex at Mutengene recently.

According to Susan Enjema Aweh, a Specialist Consultant in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Ultra Sound Technology is the use of sound waves to create images.

“It is called Ultra sound, because the ear doesn’t hear the sound. This technology is used in hospitals to detect illnesses within the human system which cannot be seen naturally.

It is easier to determine the kind of illness someone is suffering from, but referrals are made to them. This technological method of consultation is proving effective and has eased the work of health personnel as compared to the manual method,” she said.

According to Enjema Aweh, it is important for medical personnel to continuously educate themselves.

“Medicine is a branch with constant changes and innovations and even if there are no innovations, we always have to renew the old material because life or health is the most valuable thing in life. Any form of continuous medical education goes a long way to improve on the skills and quality of healthcare we deliver to the people,” she said.

The Southwest Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Victor Mbome Njie, said the main health challenge in Cameroon is the acute shortage of human resources.

He observed that the International Medical Academy, IMA, is helping to develop local capacities through the exchange of knowledge and technical know-how.

“Medicine evolves everyday, and new concepts are developed. This Academy is one of the ways in which we can exchange concepts, experiences and develop capacities,” Mbome stated.

The team of seven Doctors from Cameroon and Germany also drilled participants on how to administer First Aid and handle emergency situations in and out of the hospital milieu.

Talking about the importance of First Aid, Thomas Ndula, a Specialist Anesthesiologist from Hanover, Germany, stated: “First Aid is not only reserved for medical personnel, a lay person can do something to save a life. If a patient goes on conscious, it could be for many reasons. It could be a cardiac arrest. If that be the case, there are things that can be done without any medical equipment, without much medical knowledge to keep the patient alive, while waiting for professional help.”

Ndula said many people are ignorant on how to give first-hand help to a patient, so it is the responsibility of health personnel to educate the public on what can be done.

“Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of deaths in developed and less developed countries. There are some people who are born with heart deficiencies and malformations; it could be as a result of genetics. Some people realise theirs later in adult age when they stress up the heart. Risk factors are lack of regular exercises, obesity and high consumption of fatty foods.”

Maternal Mortality Rate: A Cause For Concern The health personnel were also schooled on Advance Life Supporting Obstetrics and how to improve maternal and child care services.

According to the Director of the CBC Health Complex Services, Prof. Pius Tih Mufih; “The CBC Health Service vision is quality care to all. To offer quality care, we need to have quality staff, health workers especially midwives who are able to handle complications during pregnancy and delivery to reduce maternal mortality rate.

Florence Tumasang, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, said their main objective was to train health care providers who work in maternal and child healthcare services from anti-natal confrontation through labour and the post pattern period.

“We are building their capacity so that they can handle all the problems during labour and delivery and other emergency situations in time. This will help to reduce the number of women who die in Cameroon in relation to pregnancy and child birth,” Tumasang averred.