The West Africa Post Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCMLS) has stated that the Nigerian government spends N8 billion annually to import vaccines from the USA and Europe.

The General Secretary/Registrar of the College, Dr Godswill Okara, disclosed this at the 4th induction/oath-taking ceremony of the 2023/2024 qualified graduates of Medical Laboratory Science at Edo State University, Uzairue, in Etsako West Local Government Area.

Okara said the amount was spent to import vaccines from Belgium, India, the USA, France, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, Denmark, South Korea, Germany, and the UAE annually.

He, however, called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of priority, support laboratory systems by developing a national laboratory policy within the national health development plan that would guide the implementation of a national strategic laboratory plan.

“To strengthen healthcare services in Nigeria, the Federal Government must unveil the National Medical Laboratory Service Policy to address the challenges confronting health services across the federation.

“The policy must serve as a strategic framework to strengthen the laboratory systems across the country,” he said.

Okara, who was the guest speaker at the event, stated that medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria must rise to the challenge of producing human vaccines and biologicals in the country.

The General Secretary/Registrar, WAPCMLS, who spoke on the topic, “Expanding Horizons: The Evolving Role of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Global Health and Innovation Post-COVID-19,” opined that medical laboratory scientists are indispensable in the fight against diseases and in protecting human health and life.

“The medical laboratory scientist is at the heart of accurate diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of treatment and management of patients, prevention, surveillance, and control of diseases locally and globally.

“Education and training hold the key to resolving the myriad of health problems facing Africa and the world,” he said.

“Medical laboratory scientists constitute a key profession in the medical fraternity and also form the backbone of medical research.

“Laboratory scientists provide prompt and accurate diagnoses in most conditions, thus allowing scientific and effective treatment to be instituted,” he added.

He noted that medical laboratory scientists around the world have been delivering on testing, accelerating research, and innovating at an unparalleled scale, which has led to the development of new diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics after COVID-19.

He posited that biomedical laboratory scientists have worked around the clock dealing with the immense numbers of samples that have needed testing.

“If there is something we have learned, it is that laboratory systems and medical laboratory scientists are of vital importance to national and global preparedness, and this should become a priority investment moving forward,” he said.

In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Dawood Egbefo, advised the inductees to be professional in performing diagnostic tests on patient samples, analyzing results, and ensuring accuracy through quality control measures.

Earlier, Prof Tosan Erhabor, Registrar/CEO of the MLSCN, who administered the oath to the inductees, urged them to always adhere to the rules of the profession.

Erhabor, who was represented by Dr Chris Mbata, noted that the rules are ethical guidelines binding on every laboratory scientist in Nigeria.