By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Diaspora (NMLSD) have applauded the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government for its initiatives and implored the government to harness the activities of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission in the area of healthcare.
The group stated this in a communique at the end of its inaugural international conference held recently which attracted over 300 participants from different parts of the world.
The NMLSD, however, expressed their commitment to leverage on their Diaspora expertise to revitalise Medical Laboratory Science practice in Nigeria.
The communique which was signed by the NMLSD President, Dr, Mujeeb Shittu, said the group is determined to strengthen and advance healthcare in Nigeria through the harnessing of diaspora knowledge and expertise.
While noting that there is the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s health system in order to address existing challenges and enhance service delivery, the group pledged, “continued support through mentorship and capacity building initiatives for students and colleagues in Nigeria, fostering professional development and knowledge exchange.”
On the issue of inaccurate diagnosis within Nigeria’s healthcare system, the NMLSD resolved to leverage diaspora expertise to improve diagnostic capabilities and contribute to better patient outcomes.
Expressing concern over the rising cases of brain drain in the health sector which it said is exacerbated by economic challenges in the country, the group “proposed creating conducive conditions for investment and training of healthcare professionals to reverse brain drain and transform it into brain gain.”
The group also reiterated the willingness of medical laboratory scientists to contribute in the advancement of cancer research in Nigeria.
NMLSD, therefore, reiterated the relevance of partnerships between diaspora Medical Laboratory Scientists and local professionals to enhance healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
The NMLSD further reiterated that the association is open to collaboration with the governments at all levels in order to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce reliance on overseas medical tourism.
Earlier, during his keynote presentation on the topic “Leveraging the Diaspora Experience for an Improved Medical Laboratory Science Practice in Nigeria,” the Registrar/Secretary-General, West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science, Dr Godswill Okara, insisted that with the immense repository of cutting-edge professional knowledge and skills, the Diaspora Medical Laboratory Scientists hold the key that can rescue the healthcare sector in Nigeria.
He further stressed that medical laboratory tests play what he described as “an indispensable role in the early detection and accurate diagnosis of disease, monitoring of treatment, disease surveillance and prevention.”
Dr. Okara who is a globally renown medical laboratory scientist also explained that medical laboratory science is a distinct profession that is endowed with the mandate of applying the methods of scientific experimentation, observation and interpretation for diagnostic and therapeutic accuracy by the medical practitioner. Medical laboratory science, according to him, provides 60-70% of the empirical data that underpin accurate diagnosis and effective treatment/management of disease conditions.
On his part, an Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University, USA, Dr Zeribe Nwosu, in a paper titled: ‘Advancing cancer research in Africa: the role of Medical Laboratory Scientists’, disclosed that cancer incidence and mortality in Africa is on the rise.
According to him: “To solve impending cancer problems, African scientists must advance in relevant research expertise, help in raising awareness, especially, in rural communities, and actively collect, manage, and responsibly share cancer data”.
