Reunion Wire

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has called for enhanced investment and budgetary allocation to the subsector to have quality and reliable medical diagnoses in the country,

The former National President of AMLSN, Dr Bassey Eya Bassey, made the call on Thursday in Enugu at the Maiden Annual Conference and Workshop 2023 organised by AMLSN, Enugu Chapter.

The Theme for the conference was the “Quality and Prospects of Medical Laboratory Services in Nigeria in the Face of Emerging Technologies”.

Bassey, who was the keynote speaker, was represented by a member, Musa Waziri.

He noted that adequate medical laboratory financing and provision of modern equipment would enable AMLSN members to compete globally and reduce medical tourism being experienced in the country.

The former AMLSN president said members could compete with their peers in other countries, stressing that their only predicament was dearth of resources, including equipment.

Bassey, who is also the National Coordinator for Extended Programme on Immunisation, said that 70 per cent hospitals diagnoses were made in the laboratories, adding that if positioned well, the country’s health sector would be among the best.

He called on governments and investors to invest in medical laboratories as there were lots of benefits to be derived.

“We cannot compete favourable globally because of poor funding and there are many analytical processes that cannot be done here because of the dearth of equipment.

“Our expectation is that government should look at its policy document that says that laboratory should have a budget and also a global policy that stated that laboratory should pursue accreditation and have a budget,” Bassey said.

Earlier in a welcome address, Dr Ejiofor Mamah, Chairman AMLSN, Enugu Chapter, said the conference was aimed at creating a forum where scholars, researchers and practitioners could come together to share scientific knowledge and experiences.

According to him, they expected to share knowledge on the areas of applied sciences, infectious diseases, epidemiology, public health pharmacology and other related field.

He decried that 20 years after the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) granted AMLSN autonomy to be professional body, Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) has remained a department in Nigerian universities instead of becoming a faculty.

Mamah, therefore, called on MLSCN, AMLSN, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), National Universities Commission (NUC), Federal Ministry of Health and other the relevant authorities to ensure that MLS is transformed into a faculty in Nigerian universities.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has written to the military high command, alleging illegal lifting of petroleum product by Exxon Mobil at Bonny River Terminal in Rivers State.

The letter, signed by the Authority’s Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed, and addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, was sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

The letter, with the title “Economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft through illegal petroleum lifting operations at Bonny River Terminal”, alleged that Exxon Mobil was lifting Butane at the terminal with the vessel, marked Barumk Gas without the authorisation or participation of NMDPRA.

Ahmed, in the letter, stated that NMDPRA was the agency of Government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.

The letter reads in parts, “This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of Exxon Mobil who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.

“The actions of Exxon Mobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.

“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.”

NAN reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its private security contractors, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, have been collaborating with security agents to arrest those perpetuating oil theft in the country.

A number of them have so far been arrested and are being prosecuted.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Abuja-based abstract artist, Ms Ella Onyebe has called on President Bola Tinubu to promote investment in art, to support unemployment.

Onyebe made the call in a interview with newsmen on the sideline of her 7th solo art exhibition titled “Big Idea” on Saturday in Abuja.

Onyebe who majors in painting women and children with 12 years experience said, art, if promoted could generate jobs and forex for the country.

She said art brings out the creativity in young people, help them express their power of imagination while generating revenue.

“Through art, we tell our stories as Africans and we preserve our culture and identity as well,” she added.

Onyebe however said lack of support had killed the potential of a lot of artists.

“Sometimes we get the positive side of it, most times it’s the negative but we are hoping to get to meet the best people who love art who are ready to put art out there.

“Now that we have a new government, we are hoping they give us the best so that we can send art out tot ur world because we cannot just stay in a place, we need to keep going out,” she said.

Onyebe called on all lovers of art to join forces with the government to bring Nigerian art to its rightful place in the world.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria