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Dr. Godswill Okara, the Secretary General/Registrar West Africa Post Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCMLS) has disclosed that Nigeria spends a whooping sum of N8 billion annually to import vaccines from the United States of America, Europe and Asia.
Dr. Okara made the disclosure at the 4th Induction/Oath/taking ceremony of the 2023/2024 newly qualified graduates of Medical Laboratory Science of Edo State University, Uzairue.
Dr. Okara, who was the guest speaker at the event, said medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria must rise in the production of human vaccines and biologicals in the country.
According to him, “Nigeria spends N8billion annually to import vaccines;-from Belgium, India, USA, France, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, Denmark, South Korea, Germany, UAE.,” Okara said.
Dr. Okara whose lecture was titled “Expanding Horizons: “The Evolving Role of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Global Health and Innovation Post Covid-19” said, medical laboratory scientists are indispensable in the fight against diseases and protection of human health and life.
“The medical laboratory scientist is at the heart of accurate diagnosis of disease, monitoring of treatment and management of patients, prevention, surveillance and control of diseases locally and globally.
“Education and training hold the key for the resolution of the myriad of health problems facing Africa and the world,” he said.
While emphasising the role of medical laboratory science, Okara said laboratory scientists constitutes a key profession in the medical fraternity and also forms the back-bone of medical research.
He also said that laboratory scientists provide prompt and accurate diagnosis in most conditions, thus allowing scientific and effective treatment to be instituted, noting that medical laboratory scientists around the world have been delivering on testing, accelerating research and innovation at an unparalleled scale that had led to the development of new diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutic after the post COVID-19.
He, however ,called on the Federal Government to support laboratory systems as a priority by developing a national laboratory policy within the national health development plan that would guide the implementation of a national strategic laboratory plan.
“In an effort to strengthen the healthcare services in Nigeria, the Federal Government must unveil National Medical Laboratory Service Policy to address the challenges confronting health services across the federation.
“The policy must serve as a strategic framework to strengthen the laboratory systems across the country”.
He further stated that Medical laboratory scientists are of vital importance to national and global preparedness in disease diagnosis and control by providing prompt and reliable confirmation of suspected cases.
“Biomedical laboratory scientists have worked around the clock dealing with the immense numbers of samples that have needed to be tested”.
“If there is something we have learned, it is that of laboratory systems and medical laboratory scientists are of vital importance to national and global preparedness and that should become a priority investment moving forward,” he said.
In his opening speech, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Dawood Egbefo reminded the graduating students of the significant responsibilities that come with being laboratory scientists.
“As we celebrate the newly inductees, I remind them of the nobel profession in performing diagnostic tests on patient samples, analysing results and ensuring accuracy through quality control measures,” Egbefo said.
The Acting VC thanked the state government for converting the central hospital Auchi to Edo State University Teaching Hospital for the training of its medical students.
Prof. Tosan Erhabor, Registrar/CEO of MLSCN, who administered the oath to the qualified graduates congratulated them and wished them a successful career ahead.
Prof. Erhabor who was represented by Dr Chris Mbata emphasised the importance of adhering to the rules of professional conduct, which are ethical guidelines binding on every laboratory scientist in Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Department and lecturer in charge of the Medical Laboratory Science, Dr. Innocent Iyare said the department is celebrating the 4th Oath taking/induction ceremony of the newly qualified Medical Laboratory Science of Edo State University, Uzairue.
He congratulated the inductees for their courage of making it thus far and prayed God to continue to take them to greater heights in their chosen profession.
While assuring them a brighter future, the HOD advised them to be a worthy ambassador of the great world class institution of higher learning.
On his part, the Acting Deam Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Dr Pius Omosigho commended the department for the choice of the induction lecture titled expanding horizons: the evolving role of medical laboratory scientists in global health and innovations post COVID-19, saying that the lecture would buttress the continuous relevance of medical laboratory scientists and diagnostic services in the global healthcare industry.
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