Doctor Dirk Koekemoer from eMoyo.net based in Northcliff is making all the right noise in the medicine world.
This master scientist has an innovative bio-technology company making huge strides in the field of mobile audiology.
With passion and vision to provide safe and efficient access to medical care to millions of people who remain untouched by health care services, Dr Koekemoer has created the first ever, mobile audiometer, the KUDUwave 5000. This one-of-a-kind audiometer can be effectively used without a sound booth or audiologist. The unique audiometer is already being rolled out by the Department of Health to hospitals across South Africa in the treatment of multi-drug resistant TB patients who show signs of hearing loss due to a side effect of the medication.
“The KUDUwave enables patients to undergo accurate and comprehensive hearing tests and the risk of patient cross contamination is also minimised,” said Dr Koekemoer. The device also allows patients that are too ill to be transported to a sound booth, to be tested at their bed side. It also allows more patients to be tested within the same period.
Dr Koekemoer said ever since he started with his career, he always wanted to solve problems. “I always wanted to create medical devices that can examine patients,” he said. He firmly believes that the KUDUwave is taking the healthcare to the patients.
“The KUDUwave is cost effective and lightweight and in order to solve the huge need in providing healthcare to all South Africans, we need technology like this,” he said.
“I am delighted to see that people can actually using the KUDUwave and it is working very well for them.
“And again, I am just excited that I am helping people.”
Dr Koekemoer also stated that he has other concepts and plans in place that will assist in ensuring South African medicine is world class. “There are a few more devices coming out. For lung testing, asthma, high blood pressure and cardio failure. We are bringing products that save lives,” concluded Dr Koekemoer.