COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 50TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE/GENERAL MEETING & GOLDEN JUBLIEE CELEBRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA HELD ON 3rd - 8th NOVEMBER, 2014 AT JOJEIN HOTELS AND RESORT, AKURE, ONDO STATE.

 

PREAMBLE: The 50th Annual Scientific Conference and Workshop/Golden Jubilee celebration of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria held in Akure, Ondo State with the theme; "Enhancing Healthcare Practice through Science: the key to the Cure". The Opening Ceremony was under the distinguished chairmanship of Professor Valentine Aleta,- Vice Chancellor, Elizade University, Ondo State. We thank the former Head of State, His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Ernest Shonekan GCFR, CBE the Special Guest of Honour. He also thank the Special Chief Host, His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo 

State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko CON for his immense support and contributions to the success of the conference, and the Deputy Governor of Omit' State, Ahaji AU Olanusi: the Guest of Honour, Senator Bode Olajumoke and other dignitaries/Governmentfunctionaries including the Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly. 

 

Professor Oluyemi Akinloye, an erudite Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine & Head of Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, and University of Lagos was the Keynote Speaker. 

 

The subthemes covered by the conference included; 

i.   Public-Private Partnership in Medical laboratory Services in Nigeria, Facts and Fallacies. 

ii.  Medico-legal liabilities in Medical laboratory Services and 

iii. Ethics and Ethical issues in Biomedical Research. 

 

A 5-credit CPO workshop was held during the 6-day conference with the following -specific training objectives; 

 

i.   Exploring and exploiting the leadership role of Medical Laboratory Scientists in evidence-based healthcare practice. 

ii.  The rationale and Approach to In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) Regulation in the Nigerian health sector. 

iii. The Triad of Infectious Diseases: Ebola and other Emerging Diseases. 

iv.  Supply Chain Management logistics: An Essential Element of Successful Medical Laboratory Services. 

v.   E-learning as a tool for continuous Professional Development (CPO): Project Update. 

Vi.  Laboratory Dusts: Observation, Record and Research. 

The conference showcased the history of Medical Laboratory Science profession in Nigeria through the public presentation and launching of the book "Evolution of Medical Laboratory Science Profession in Nigeria" under the distinguished Chairmanship of  Pastor TAO Adesina, a past National President of AMLSN. A total of seventy two (72) scientific papers were presented during the scientific conference which extensively deliberated on research findings, sustenance of team spirit and patient-centered healthcare practice in Nigeria. 

 

OBSERVATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS 

i. Conference commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, for the massive release of funds and display of political commitment which facilitated the successful control/eradication of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country. 

 

ii. Conference congratulated the medical laboratory scientists who performed the analysis, accurate and prompt identification  

of the index case of Ebola Virus in Nigeria. Conference noted the urgent need for Government to strengthen medical laboratory infrastructure and personnel capacity as a long term strategy for combating the scourge of infectious diseases and to curtail potential future outbreaks of Ebola and other hemorrhagic diseases. Without the prompt and accurate laboratory diagnosis of the index and subsequent cases, the outbreak would have ravaged and decimated our population. The pivotal role of efficient medical laboratory services in effective healthcare system can never be over-emphasized. 

 

iii. Conference called on Government to regard the Ebola virus Disease outbreak as a wake-up- call for the reactivation of the Vaccine Production laboratory in Yaba, Lagos. The use of vaccines remains the best and most cost-effective means of controlling and eradicating infectious diseases, Nigerian medical laboratory scientists produced human vaccines (Smallpox, Yellow fever and Rabbis vaccines) in export quantities in the 19605 and 1970s in the Yaba laboratories. Perennial Government neglect and inter-professional rivalry have led to total dilapidation of the facilities in the vaccine production laboratories. Government preference for importation of foreign made vaccines has not helped the situation, 

 

iv. Conference called on the Federal and State Ministries of Health to urgently implement the National Medical Laboratory Services Policy which was approved since 2007. The Policy clearly requires the creation of the Department of Medical laboratory Services at the Federal and State Ministries of Health for effective and efficient coordination of laboratory services in the three tiers of the health system. Medical laboratories constitute the foundation on which healthcare practice is built. A faulty foundation will never sustain any edifice erected on it. 

 

v. Conference expressed deep concern on the security challenges in the country and its adverse effect on the economy and the well-being of the populace. Conference appreciated and acknowledged the effort of the Federal Government, State Governments and Security Agencies and their roles in curtailing the spate of insecurity in the Country and appealed to them to do more in this regard. Conference also called of the insurgents to embrace dialogue for lasting peace in the interest of our dear country. 

 

vi. The continuous decline and deterioration of the Nigerian healthcare delivery system is fuelling the deplorable health dices. Conference noted that this deplorable state of our healthcare services is due to the mismanagement of our healthcare institutions and unhealthy inter-professional rivalry that has bedeviled the healthcare section since the administration of these institutions was taken over from professional health administrators Conference called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to return health administration in Nigeria to professionals should concentrate on giving their core professional services to patients.

 

vii. Conference cautitioned on the ongoing vendetta-motivated and driven public-private partnership model being championed by some physicians as an attempt to dispense with the contributions of other professionals in the health sector. Public-private partnership is not supposed to make laboratory services out of the reach of the majority of the public but rather to make it more accessible, affordable and efficient. A situation where public hospital laboratories are purposely starved of reagents and consumables to promote private commercial laboratories in government hospital premises is nothing but calculated fraud. 

This is clearly a policy summersault designed to confer monopoly on shylock business outfits in Government hospital facilities. It is intended to kill and eliminate the healthy competition and freedom of choice that should exist between the hospital laboratories and the private ones', It is a gross abuse of the PPP concept and practice. The main thrust of the National Medical laboratory Services Policy is to make quality-assured medical laboratory services accessible and affordable to the public. Government is called upon to arrest this abuse of the well though-out concept of public-private partnership for enhanced healthcare service. 

viii. On the current state of the healthcare delivery in Nigeria, members noted that inter-professional conflict has bedeviled the system due to the culture of arbitrariness and lawlessness introduced into the system by some chief executives of healthcare institutions. 

The conference sued for synergy and mutual respect amongst healthcare professionals for the benefit of Nigerians. 

 

 

ix. Conference commended the Ondo State Government for the provision of improved healthcare service delivery, by the establishment of Mother and Child Hospital Projects, rendering free health services to under-5year children and free antenatal services, and equipping the Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, amongst others. These landmark achievements have rightly earned Ondo State the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award as the Best Performing State in the country, we salute the Iroko, Governor Olusegun Mimiko CON, may your star continue to shine. 

Conference noted the imperative of evidence-based healthcare practice the world over, as syndromic management of ailments and diseases has fast disappeared. Conference urged all Nigerian medical and health practitioners to adopt global best practices which have evolved through laboratory empirical scientific diagnosis and personalised medicine for best results. Science revolutionised the practice of medicine and surgery by beaming its searchlight on the guesses, hunches and mysteries that constituted the art of medical practice, Science brought verifiable proof to healthcare practice and enhanced its benefit to humanity. This is more so in the 21st Century healthcare practice. The interplay and inter- dependence of professions in the Nigerian health sector should be promoted and sustained for the benefit of the patient and society. 

 

xi. Conference commended the Federal Government for the recent commissioning of the Public Health In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Control Laboratory in Lagos. It urged Government to give the necessary funding support for adequate utilisation of the IVD Control Laboratory to reduce the challenges posed by poor qua) it equipment and substandard laboratory reagents in Nigeria. 

 

xii. Conference commended Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, for his avowed commitment to the observance of rule of law. It called on him to direct the Federal Ministry of Health to obey and fully comply with the landmark judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) delivered since 23rd October, 2013 on the implementation of the Medical laboratory scientists' scheme of service in all health institutions in Nigeria. 

 

xiii. Conference commended the House of Representatives for taking the bill for an Act to establish the National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science through first and second readings and public hearing, It further urged the House to expedite action on the bill for final passage and enactment, as this will facilitate the development of specialised medical laboratory manpower and diagnostic capacity of our healthcare system. It will also stem the growing medical tourism facing our country. 

 

Conclusion 

Medical laboratory science constitutes a key profession in the health fraternity. It is the key to the cure in modern health care practice. As it enters into its second half century of existence and development in Nigeria, it holds the prospects of stabilising and strengthening the capabilities and capacity of our health care system through a robust scientific research input, prompt and accurate laboratory investigation and testing. We urge the chief Executives in the Nigeria health sector to avoid lawless conduct, partisan disposition. First-born mentality and work towards transforming the sector from presumptive and syndromic management of ailments to evidence-based and personalised healthcare practice. It is obvious that Nigeria has the capacity to be at its best if the health sector rises to the current demands of scientific and technological advancement. Working together in harmony as a team, we will achieve and accomplish much more than we can ever imagine. Now is the time to consolidate on the success story of our triumph over Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. 

 

ELECTION OF NEW NATIONAL OFFICERS 

As part of the conference, the following new National Executive Officers (NEO) were elected to run the affairs oft he Association for the next three years, 2014 - 2017. ~ 

1.   Ahaji Toyosi Y. Raheem     -       National President 

2.   Mr. Uche Odionyenma        -        1st National Vice President 

3.   Mr. Robert R. Ashi              -        2nd National Vice President 

4.   Mr. Suraj Junaid                 -        National Secretary 

5.   Mr. Tam A. Adeyeye           -        Public Relations Officer 

6.   Mr. Olusoji A. Billyrose      -        Assistant National Secretary 

7.   Dr. Felix Emelike              -        Financial Secretary 

8.   Mr. Olukayode Salako       -       National Treasurer 

9.   Mr. Muktar Yeldu                -      National Auditor 

10. Prof. Mba O. okoronkwo    -     Editor-in Chief 

11. Dr.Godswill C. Okara        -     Immediate Past President

 

Signed 

Dr. Godswill C. Okara

National President

 

Mr. Robert R. Ashi

N. Secretary/Chairman, Conference Committee