AMLSN Plateau State Chapter holds Annual Scientific conference

By: Joseph A. Adudu, May 12, 2022

The Plateau State Branch of the National Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), opened its Five-Day annual scientific conference and Workshop in Jos.

This year event which is the 8th in the series has as it's main theme, "Quality Laboratory Output and Patience Care: The issues and the Nexus in the One Health Framework" in addition to other sub-themes.

Bala Ntuhun, Chairman, AMLSN Plateau State Branch

In his welcome address, Chairman, AMLSN, Plateau State, Bala Dennis Ntuhun said this year conference and Workshop was fully packed with highly intellectual topics which would be delivered by imminent scholars who are well vast in the areas captured by the theme of the conference.He thanked the resource persons for graciously accepting the request and agreed to speak at the conference and Workshop noting that by so doing, impacting their wealth of knowledge and experience on the Medical Laboratory Scientists and the likes all over the world.

According to Ntuhun, "The conference is a hybrid one even though we are in the post-COVID-19 era. "I encourage us all to be attentive as we go through the presentations to position health care providers towards proffering a better health care services to our patients and clients in this world full of emerging and re-emerging infection diseases".

Dr. Moses Lugos, Chairman, Scientific/Outreach Committee, AMLSN

The Chairman appreciated the Scientific and Outreach Committee for putting-in immerse time, efforts and resources to actualize the hosting of the event.He further assured that the participants would have a fruitful scientific engagement and more insights in regards to the topics for presentations.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman Scientific/Outreach Committee, Dr. Moses Lugos said that taking into cognizance the theme for this year's conference and Workshop, the Scientific Committee thought it wise to remind health care providers of the importance of quality Laboratory results in patient management. Lugos posited that the meeting was also intended to highlight the importance of synergy amongst health care professionals in patient management. He continued, "During this meeting, participants, especially the health care professionals in our midst , would be encouraged to work in teams and synergy for the purpose of improving health care service delivery in our country, especially on the Plateau".

Orji Rosemary, participant

Speaking further, the University Don hinted that it is on record that 70 percent of medical decisions depend largely on laboratory test results adding that this therefore, calls for a strong synergy and respect among all health care Practitioners. "Aside from the synergy and team work, professionals must not relent in developing their knowledge and skills in order to meet up with the changing science and unending innovations", he said.

The Chairman also revealed that to execute the theme and sub-themes, the Scientific and Outreach Committee worked assiduously to source high caliber resource persons. "As you will see in the course of our meeting, we have drawn top-grade persons from academia and from different health care professionals including Medical Laboratory Scientists, Pathologists, Clinicians, Pharmacists, Managers and professional regulatory bodies as well as Chief Executives to help deliver the conference topics.

"With a cursory look at the calibre of the resource persons, one will assert that at the end of this conference, participants will embrace quality laboratory service and enthrone synergy and team work in healthcare service", Lugos said.

Chimezie Ogbunna, participant

Professor Godwin Imade made the first presentation on the workshop theme. Some participants who spoke to African Drum expressed delight stressing that the conference would go a long way towards improving their capacities.

A participant and Medical Laboratory Scientist working with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Orji Rosemary said that the conference was well loaded because it was well planned and would definitely enhanced our capacity. She added that the meeting would equally send message to politicians on the need to improved funding of Medical Laboratories in the Country.

Another participant who is also the Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist with the prestigious National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Chimezie Ogbonnah equally stated that the conference was fully loaded taking into account the array of resource persons ready to dispense knowledge at the conference for our benefit.”We just heard from one of the resource persons who talked on the output quality system management. There is no Laboratory that can make progress without implementing quality laboratory system. If there is no quality laboratory system being practiced in a facility, you know that the results being chunned out cannot be reckoned with. This is exactly why this Program was organized so that medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria and in diaspora can be acquainted with the current trend in patient and result output. The key issue is that no matter the amount of work you do in the Laboratory, once your result does not meet international acceptable standard, it will never stand the test of time”.

Ogbonnah further stated that the Program has been an awakening for them as professionals to be able to continue to practice what they have learnt by applying it appropriately.

Irigwe Youth dancers entertaining participants at the event

There were goodwill messages from Professor James Damen, National President Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (virtually), Professor Sheyin Zakka, Head of Department, Medical Laboratory Science, University of Jos and the CMD of Plateau Specialist Hospital whose message was delivered on his behalf by Nde James Goltong, Head of Department, Medical Laboratory Science, Plateau State Specialist Hospital Jos .

Cross section of participants

The Program, which venue is at the APIN Seminar Hall Old JUTH, Jos with over 150 participants, continues until Saturday 14th May, 2022 when a Communique is expected to be issued at the end of it.