AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) is set to extend its services into health, safety, and environment sectors, in an effort to protect the community against possible harmful effects that might result from wrong measurements’ outcomes.
WMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO ), Dr. Ludovic Manege said in Dar es Salaam at the commemoration of the World Metrology Day that like in any other sector, measurement instruments in the health, safety, and environment sectors should be regularly verified to bring about accuracy and intended results.
“The health sector relies on measures to achieve its goals. In hospitals, clinics, and health centers doctors and nurses depend much on various patient measurement results, like that of weight and blood pressure, among others , so as to be able to determine the right treatments. Without accuracy measurement results a doctor can direct wrong dosage that could endanger the patient’s life,” said the CEO.
He stressed that maternal and child health centers also rely on accurate measurements to monitor maternal health during pregnancy.
The measurements are also important for the baby’s heartbeats rate wherein without accurate measurement devices; Things could go wrong.
The CEO said further that given the fact that Tanzania is a member of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML), the agency makes whatever possible to extend its services to all sectors, for not only protecting the community but also making sure that locally manufactured goods are able to compete in international markets.
“The O IML provides International recommendations and guidelines regarding the use of precise measurements, aiming at bringing accuracy to the whole concept of measurements worldwide. For example, one kilogram of sugar in Tanzania must be equal to one kilogram in Denmark,” he said, adding that: The WMA also is responsible to protect transportation infrastructures; Hence, it regularly verifies measurements’ devices to let that all transport means, especially vehicles and locomotives have cargoes in line with their carrying capacity.
Measurement accuracy plays an important role when tax collection comes in, to make sure that both traders and responsible tax collection authority get what one deserves, the CEO stressed.
“Again, economic reports from various sectors on production, trade and economy depends on accurate measurements. For example, information on exports depends on measurements like tones, meters and millimeters, to mention a few. Thus, use of proper measurements is crucial for acquisition of accurate statistics that (statistics), help to determine the contribution of each sector to the national income,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tanzania joined the global community to commemorate the World Metrology Day, with the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), reminding all manufacturers in the country to adhere to the quality and standards of their products before sending them to the market.
By doing so, the manufacturers will also play part in serving human lives and promote growth of business in the country.
TBS Director General, Dr Yussuph Ngenya said as the custodian of standards of all products, the bureau has been monitoring the quality and standards of all products before they are dispatched to the market.
“It’s crucial for them to ensure all their products meet the standards set by the government through TBS,” he said at a press conference to mark the event.
He recalled that if production in all industries would meet the standards then it would be easy for the items to be sold worldwide, hence easing the international trade.
Unlike previous years, the 2020’s commemoration didn’t have stage events to avoid mass gatherings, as part of the continued efforts to prevent further spread of Coronavirus.
The World Metrology Day 2020 was marked with a Theme: Measurements for global trade.
