Ahmed advocates constant training for medical lab scientists

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advocated constant training for Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) to ensure quality healthcare delivery.

Ahmed made the call in Ilorin on Wednesday at the 1st Annual Scientific Conference of the Kwara branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria.

The governor said that the state government established the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre to acknowledge the importance of laboratory investigation in medical treatment.

He, however, noted that the procurement of modern facilities would not achieve its desired purpose without constant training.

He added that “it is pertinent to state that the existence of diagnostic and research laboratory and laboratory personnel without constant training may not achieve the desired purpose for the laboratories.

“Conferences like this will go a long way in assisting the state government to achieve success in healthcare programmes for the good people of Kwara.”

The National President of the association, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem, urged members to engage in rigorous training to ensure quality healthcare service delivery in the country.

He also urged medical laboratory scientists to make the interest of the profession and health system their priority.

Mr Adekunle Fowotade, the Kwara Chairman of the union, lamented that most medical laboratories in Africa were ill-equipped.

This, he said, was in spite of the fact that laboratories formed the backbone of health system and provided healthcare workers with critical test results for numerous deadly diseases.

He said “out of the 5,349 diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria, only the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) laboratory has International Standards Organization (ISO) certification.

He, however, applauded the state government for engaging the services of professionals in the state despite the paucity of fund.

He explained that the conference was organised to address the challenges facing Quality Management in Medical Laboratory Practice and ways to improve it.

The association also presented awards to eminent personalities who contributed to the development of the profession and the association.