Dakuku Peterside, former director-general (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says improved laboratory services are crucial to detecting emerging diseases.
Peterside spoke on Monday at the 18th annual lecture and national executive council meeting (NEC) of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), held in Akakiliki, Ebonyi state.
The theme of the lecture was ‘Mitigating intractable disease outbreaks through strengthened medical laboratory services’.
The lecture covered topics like strengthening laboratory infrastructure and capacity, leveraging technology and innovation, and investing in research and development.
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Peterside said medical laboratory scientists occupy a strategic place in the effective detection, diagnosis, and response to emerging diseases like COVID-19.
He added that the scientists are also crucial in mitigating the growing burden of tuberculosis, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance.
Peterside said the challenge of intractable diseases required the concerted action of professionals to find new ways to work together more effectively to solve humanity’s most significant health challenge.
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He said laboratory scientists also need to reflect on investing enough in research, education, and investigations to “find the root causes and possible solutions to these rare health occurrences”.
The former DG of NIMASA commended Francis Nwifuru, the Ebonyi state governor, who was the guest lecturer, for his “early signs of promise in terms of “significant strides, bold statements, and revolutionary steps in healthcare and also infrastructure”.
Dakuku also praised the AMLSN for bringing healthcare issues to the forefront of the national discourse.
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