…. As Odionyenma pleads government’s intervention.
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) on Tuesday 15th April, 2025, joined her counterparts around the world to commemorate the annual World Biomedical Laboratory Science Day, with a two-year theme “Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Promoting Sustainability in Clinical Diagnostics”, which is designed to run for 2025 and 2026.
Addressing newsmen at the Imo State NUJ Secretariat, Owerri, National President of AMLSN, Dr. Uche Odionyenma stated that the Organization is proudly a member of the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) which he said established the Biomedical Laboratory Science day in the year 1996 at Oslo in Norway, while describing the body, as the global voice of the biomedical laboratory scientists.
He related that AMLSN is a professional body with ethical and legal responsibility for the design, scope, quality and standards of medical laboratory testing for modern healthcare, noting that a medical laboratory scientist must have undergone a six year training, while to be a consultant requires full time training of 7 years for postgraduate to obtain MSc, PhD and fellowship of the MLSCN or WAPCMLS.
The AMLSN President said that the body (MLS) confers the epistemic authority to offer professional services in medical laboratory testing, management and education.
The Lab Scientists however thanked President Bola Tinubu for his reform agenda in the health sector and urged the federal government to strain every nerve to give equal opportunities to all health personnel as well as providing adequate funding of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to expand access to healthcare to all Nigerians among other needs of the association.
“Give equal opportunities to and treat all health professionals in the sector with justice, fairness and career progression including professional autonomy that will motivate every profession to contribute its best in the health sector.
“Ensure full implementation of the approved scheme of Service to Medical Laboratory Personnel at all tiers of government.
“Ensure adequate funding of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to expand access to healthcare and ensure improved universal health coverage attainment.
” Increase budgetary allocation to the health sector and adequate funding of medical laboratory services with a view to making tests affordable, reliable and accessible to the masses.
” Ensure the full implementation of the National Health Act 2014 to the benefit of all.
” Reduce the bane and hazards of quackery and proliferation of health training institutions and inadequate regulation of IVDs to public health.
” Call for urgent constitution and inauguration of the MLSCN Governing Board.
” Liberalize the headship and restructuring of the Federal Ministry of Health with a view to appointing credible, professionally-unbiased, experienced health administrators or professionals that will give enabling environment and resources for optimal discharge of quality healthcare at all levels in Nigeria” the association submits.
Dr. Odionyenma further posited that “in promoting sustainability in clinical diagnostics, the needed ingredients are sustainable testing, sustainable procurement, efficient use of resources and engagement of adequate qualified manpower among others”.
