Sola POPOOLA
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria(AMLSN) has warned that it would not tolerate any real or clandestine move by certain groups within the health sector to usurp its duties and responsibilities as enshrined in the Scheme of Service, Medical Laboratory Science Council Adt 11 of 2003 “
It also advocated the establishment of Public Health Laboratories across the states with a view to combating the emerging diseases.
The body argued that the Laboratories when established would enhance capacities for molecular testing that would help in the diagnous and genetic surveillance of emerging and re – emerging diseases.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of its 58th Annual Conference and Workshop held in Ado-Ekiti ,the Ekiti State capital
The communique was signed by its National President, Secretary and the Publicity Secretary, Professor James Garba Damen, Professor Musa Abidemi Muhibi and Olusoji Billyrose respectively.
The Conference also expressed deep concern on the deplorable state of roads within Nigeria and called on the Federal and State Governments to give priority attention to its rehabilitation in order to reduce avoidable deaths during emergency medical referrals.
Conference encouraged the government to support the sponsorship and training of Medical Laboratory Scientists at postgraduate and fellowship levels as thin will sharpen their skills for research and improved services
It also underscored the pivotal role of Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Nigerian Health System stressing that medical diagnoses and prescriptions most often, were dependent upon contingent , standard of medical laboratories and diagnostic competences of the Medical Laboratory Scientists.
“Conference flayed the attempt by a certain profesional group in the health sector that are daily encroaching on the professional duties and responsibilities prescribed for Medical Laboratory Selentsts as contained in the Scheme of Service, Medical Laboratory Science Council Adt 11 of 2003 “
Conference calls on the FG to increase the budgetary allocations to the health sector with special emphasis on laboratory infrastructure at the tertiary, secondary and primary levels of health care practice.
“We noted with concern that Nigeria has never met the 15% total budget benchmark for budgetary allocation to the health sector intended for health system’s strengthening in line with Abuja Declaration”.
As part of their resolutions, the Medical Laboratory Scientists, appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health to support the Medical Laboratory Science Council’s accreditation drive for both private and public laboratories in the country for standardised professionalism .
The professionals also called on Nigerians to key into the Health Insurance Scheme in order to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, which results into financial catastrophe, and reduced National health coverage.
The Association lamented the spate of brain drain in the health sector due to poor remuneration and working conditions, saying the trend must be checked to save the sector from imminent collapse .
The Conference called on the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the enactment of the Teaching Hospitals Reconstitution Bill to fortify the system through well streamlined operational policies for hospital professionals and better efficiency.
“The Bill among other things, seeks to reduce interprofessional rivalry among various players in the healthcare team in the nation’s Teaching Hospital by ensuring that all critical stakeholders are involved in the Constitution of boards.
“Opponents of the bill are perpetrating that Nigerians should watch in silence and helpless docility as the country’s health rating remains the lowest on the global scale, brazenly overlooking its potential in diversity of health professionals to change the narratives”