Erhabor Decries Quakery: Gives Template For Commencement Of Lab Inspections

Posted on: Tue 18-07-2017

It was purely a social gathering over the weekend in Lagos when AMLSN Lagos branch organized a dinner as part of activities of the 52nd Scientific Conference. While many settled to wine, dine and dance, the Ag. Registrar of the Council, Mr Tosan Erhabor had a message to drop amidst the pump and peagentry.

Hot on the heels of high ratings on commendable strides made so far in the past one year of his administration, he did not mince words in rolling out his next agenda as council helmsman.

"Quackery is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Medical Laboratory Science practice in the country as of now".

He gave a succinct definition of quackery as:

"a person who pretends professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or qualification he or she does not possess"._

He added that:

"those of us who engage in unethical practices, cutting corners, shortchanging the patients and betraying their trust, and consequently bring our noble profession to disrepute are also in this axis of evil. Even more worrisome is the increasing number of those who fall into this bracket, their effrontery, and their antics".

He attributed the reason for the recent upsurge in quackery in the system to the challenges the council had in performing her core mandate of:

"inspection of medical laboratories aimed at combating the menace of quackery among other vices"_

He said:

"The unfortunate situation created a gap, which the quacks who often act like predators quickly spotted and converted to their devious advantage. Some of our fellow citizens have paid dearly for this sad situation"._

He however brimmed with confidence, rolling out a template for instituting professional hygiene in the system:

"As a prelude to the re-commencement of the inspection activities, we have articulated a comprehensive protocol, as well as Guidelines for the Registration of Medical Laboratories, which the Federal Ministry of Health has approved"._

He added the approach would begin with:

"Council commencing a three month programme of advocacy and public sensitization involving both electronic, print as well as other contemporary media to enable practitioners and other stakeholders appreciate the imperative of the protocol and the inspection activities"._

He concluded his speech by assuring of his:

"determination and commitment to turn things around and bequeath a legacy of accurate and reliable medical laboratory test results to our fellow citizens"_, adding that the essence of the clean up is not for witch hunting anyone but to instil the culture of quality in our system in line with global best practices.

With this clear demonstration of vision by the Ag. Registrar, the coast is now clear for the much needed professional hygiene that will see space and jobs freed for occupation by duly certified Medical Laboratory Scientists to the delight of our teeming unemployed young professionals.

With delight, I call on all and sundry to support the Ag. Registrar to strengthen the system for our common good.

By Solomon Chollom

Public Affairs Commentator

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