By Adama Makasuba
Spirometry training workshop on improving lung health in The Gambia for Doctors and Nurses has been launched on Friday at Ocean Bay hotel in Bakau aims to equip and strengthened the capacity of Doctors and Nurses in treating lung disease in the country.
Chronic lung disease is a limitation of air flow and is described as a life threatening disease.
The five day training is been co supported by Dr Sukaru Touray a Gambian-American lecturer and co implemented by the Kanifing General hospital.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, minister of health and social welfare Dr Amadou Lamin Samateh said: “The Gambia like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa is faced with the dual diseases burden of communicable and none communicable diseases which places additional pressure on our health care system.”
He described the training as important that it will equip doctors and nurses who come in contact with such patients with their requisite knowledge to conduct spirometry and enhanced effective management of cases.
For his part, Kebba Manneh, Chief Executive Officer of Kanifing General hospital said: “In the Gambia studies have also revealed that 34% of all deaths accounts to none communicable diseases and out of that 34% –2% of them are chronic respiratory infection,” he said.
He said according to WHO 2018 report indicated that none communicable diseases accounts for 41 million deaths globally so this is a huge burden
He said at his hospital-Kanifing General hospital that almost two thousand out of total outpatients seen in a quota are respiratory related diseases, adding that over two hundreds in a quota are also due to respiratory diseases.
He however described the situation as a call for concerned now than later and described the training as timely.
Mr Manneh called for support of the government through the ministry of health to support the project for betterment of the country’s health sector.
Dr. Linsay Zurba, manager of Africa thoracic society Spirometry partjaolio and the lead trainer expressed delight for being among the trainers.
