Health In Focus As Kenya Marks World Metrology Day

Kenya, through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has joined the World to mark the World Metrology Day. Celebrated annually on 20^th May, World Metrology Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. Metrology is the science of measurement, embracing both experimental and theoretical determinations at any level of uncertainty in any field of science and technology.

The treaty provides the basis for a worldwide coherent measurement system that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing, and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and protection of the global environment.

This year’s celebrations are organised under the theme, ‘Measurement for Health’ to create awareness of the important role measurement plays in modern medicine, and patient protection.

“This year’s theme is especially significant as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says says Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini, KEBS managing director. “From calibrating equipment that are used in the testing of samples for presence of the virus, to calibrating equipment that are used in the testing of personal protective equipment, to calibrating medical devices such as ventilators and those used in storing vaccines to ensure that the efficacy of vaccines is maintained, metrology has been key in the fight against COVID-19.”

Over the years metrology has played a central role in scientific discovery and innovation in health healthcare championing advances in surgery, radiology, pharmacology, dentistry, audiology, among others. More recently, metrology has also been involved in vaccine development. This has been possible because of the accurate identification and measurement of RNA (Ribonucleic acid) molecules.

Locally, metrology has contributed to developing technical standards to support and ramp up manufacturing of quality personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as masks and development of locally manufactured medical devices such as ventilators to support the government in the fight against COVID-19.

“By finding new ways to test, diagnose and treat, and develop innovative medical devices that provide accurate and reliable results, metrology provides a base to enhance global measures undertaken to promote medical practice and reduce the impact of the global health crisis,” he Mr Njiraini says.

See >> Covid Vaccines Exposing Inequality Among Nations