Let me begin by expressing our profound gratitude to the Sokoto State Government, first for the recent implementation of Enhanced Entry Point (EEP) to all Medical Laboratory Scientists working under the state government, and secondly the recent upgrading of NYSC allowances to serving corps members in the state. 

 

This has really shown that the present leadership is very sensitive to the plight of her people; we hope and pray that other state governors will emulate this good gesture of His Excellency Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Mutawallen Sokoto).

 

After listening to the news on the recent NYSC allowance upgrade by the state government, I deem it necessary to take up my pen to clarify misconceptions about Medical Laboratory Science and the mistake in the said upgrade. 

 

Your Excellency Sir, I have noticed in your approved allowance upgrade that Medical Laboratory Scientist Corps members alongside Technicians were upgraded from N9000 to N15, 000 while Pharmacist Corps members were upgraded from N19, 000 to N25, 000. Honestly Sir, I am yet to comprehend the criteria you used to arrive at this placement.

 

Medical Laboratory Scientists are distinct medical professionals' licensed by Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) to practice medical laboratory services in their chosen areas of specialties such as Medical Microbiology, Histopathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Virology, Immunology and the rest. They diagnose and generate medical laboratory results for treatment and management of illnesses; according to the World Health Organisation, 70% of clinical decision is based on medical laboratory report.

 

Dear Gov. Tambuwal: Nurses are Not Technicians BY Jude Chiedu 

 

Medical Laboratory Science course is a degree program offered in universities that got approval of Nigeria Universities Commission and Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria to run the program. It is a 5 years course plus 1 year of internship training just like pharmacy before proceeding for National Youth Service. 

 

During internship training, graduates of Medical Laboratory Science and Pharmacy are placed on the same salary scale of CONHESS 08 (Grade Level 09). Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pharmacists will be employed after NYSC on the same salary scale of CONHESS 09 (Grade Level 10) as fresh civil servants.

 

For clarity sake, Technicians are holders of diploma certificates in various medical fields after 2 or 3 years training in Colleges of Health Technology, and they don't go for NYSC except those that proceed further to acquire higher degrees/diplomas. We also have Science Laboratory Technology offered as a National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programs in Polytechnics which is regulated by National Institute of Science Technology. Therefore, classification of Medical Laboratory Scientists among the Technicians is a big mistake which needs to be rectified. 

 

Graduates of Medicine spend 7 years while Medical Laboratory Science and Pharmacy spend 6 years before proceeding for National Youth Service.The yard stick used to arrive at N15, 000 for Medical Laboratory Scientists, N25, 000 for Pharmacists and double the amount for the Medical Doctors is still not clear.

 

I therefore call on our dear governor to review the upgrading process with the view of correcting the anomaly and disparity to Medical Laboratory Science Corps members. May Almighty Allah continue to bless our amiable governor with wisdom and noble ideas to move Sokoto State to greater heights, amen.

 

Written by Rilwanu Isah Tsamiya (AMLSN Branch Secretary, Sokoto State)