Don’t expose patients to unnecessary radiation

Health practitioners have been warned against misusing radiography to avoid exposing patients to unjustified radiation.

An association of radiologists has asked that facilities offering radiography services be manned by certified employees only.

“We need stronger regulation of radiation. The equipment used should be handled with care. Facilities should recruit qualified employees and those employees should attend continuous professional development,” said Dr Beatrice Mugi, the chair of the Kenya Association of Radiologists, raising the alarm on the growing number of unqualified people practising as radiographers (the technologists who perform medical imaging tests).

“To practise radiography, you must be accredited to give the right diagnosis and treatment,” she said.

Speaking during the bi-annual Radiographers Scientific Conference in Mombasa, Society of Radiation in Kenya (SORK) Council President Kenneth Wangari said that despite having qualified radiographers in the country, 90 per cent do not have certified specialty training.

“The upsurge in radiography equipment installation base and shift in technology has widened the training gap. To improve workflow efficiencies, there is need to improve radiographic equipment handling techniques and to increase the radiography skillset of healthcare workers through training,” Mr Wangari said.

SORK is partnering with General Electric to train radiographers on radiation safety and protection, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) focus, use of contrast media, conventional imaging and mammo-focus, radiotherapy focus, ultrasound focus, management and leadership imaging services and molecular imaging. The two-year course will focus on essential radiography skills, as well as the latest medical imaging technologies and techniques to optimise efficiency.

As demand for well-trained radiographers rises, supply remains low, hence the need to provide continuous training specifically focused on various imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help radiographers acquire specialised skills.

“County governments should ensure that radiographers across the country access essential modality speciality training to ensure that the installed radiographic equipment is put to full use,” added Mr Wangari.

He pointed out that training would equip radiographers with skills to take precise images for better analysis and referrals hence reducing the cost of inappropriate diagnoses.