Over 1,250 Kumbo pupils screened for heart diseases

The Ministry of Public Health and the Shisong Cardiac Centre organised a workshop for teachers.

A five-day seminar on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Diseases was organised at the Saint Elizabeth Catholic Hospital Cardiac Centre, Shisong, Banso, in Bui Division of the North West Region, from December 2-6, 2014, by the Ministry of Public Health and the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis, Shisong.

Attended by 40 primary school teachers, the training was opened by the Bui Divisional Delegate for Basic Education Bui, Angwafor Clement Mankefor, in the presence of the General Manager of the Shisong Cardiac Centre, Rev. Sister Jethro Nkenglefac and Dr. Tanchou Cabral, a cardiologist and one of the programme coordinators.

Rev. Sister Nkenglefac explained that Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic heart diseases are common in Cameroon largely because of negligence. Following the training, over 1,250 pupils from three primary schools in the area were screened for Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic heart diseases.

Giving statistics of the Shisong Cardiac Centre since inception, Sister Nkenglefac said consultations now stood at 26,000, with 468 open heart surgeries and 85 pace implantations.

Angwafor Clement Mankefor assisted the Cardiac Centre with FCFA 50,000 and called for the seminar to be organised on a yearly basis, involving more teachers; an appeal that was welcomed and accepted by Rev. Sister Jethro Nkenglefac.

During the seminar, participants were drilled on cardio-vascular diseases and prophylaxis, while the activities of the centre were presented to them. A blood donors’ coordinators’ seminar was also held at the same venue on Saturday, December 6, 2014.