AMLSN Champions Crusade on Antibiotic Resistance

Kuni Tyessi

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), has directed its members to increase efforts against the growing challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in the country, and to ensure they offer their best to save lives being affected by the scourge.

President of the group, Toyosi Raheem, gave the directive in Abuja at a briefing commemorating the 2017 World Biomedical Science Day.

He also expressed worry over the current toll taken by meningitis and said the over 500 deaths could be averted if government had taken necessary precautionary measures to prevent the outbreaks.

Raheem said against the claims of government that funds were not immediately available, except government prioritises health issues and implement crucial laws such as the National Health Act; it would be difficult to meet public expectations in the sector.

He informed that Medical Laboratory Science or Biomedical Science had continued to be very important in diagnosis, research, training and service delivery, and that as such, it plays great roles in responding to health emergencies among others.

He charged all state chapters of the association to commemorate the day “in the best way possible. It is already a known fact that Biomedical Laboratory Science Day is observed to increase the awareness of the roles that Biomedical Scientists play in healthcare. Biomedical Scientists play an important role in diagnosis, quality development and quality assurance, treatment, research and development, and public healthcare. Therefore, the purpose for which International Biomedical Laboratory Science Day is commemorated annually, is to give our profession a day to promote and celebrate ourselves.”

The theme for this year World Biomedical Laboratory Science Day is ‘Antibiotic Resistance: Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Respond to the Global Threat.’

AMLSN explained that due to poverty, ignorance and weak regulations in various health practices, “there has been use, misuse and abuse of antibiotics in our various communities especially in Nigeria. The danger arising from this ranges from wastage of drugs (antibiotics), development of side effects, some of which include damage to organs and systems, development of resistance by the microorganisms, prolonged hospital visits/admissions due to treatment failures and complications, loss of avoidable man-hours or economically productive hours amongst others.

“Imagine what the outcome of a drug resistant strain in an epidemic outbreak of meningitis and other infectious diseases would be! It is better imagined than experienced. We are already battling with emerging drug resistance in HIV, TB, malaria, diarrhoea and other enteric diseases.

“As a responsible professional association, we need to decisively respond to the threats and engage the community in advocacy, proper and faster methods for detecting infectious agents and their susceptibility testing.

Meanwhile, AMLSN has said medical laboratory scientists are both involved in disease diagnosis and bacteria vaccines production processes. It called on the federal government to revive the vaccine laboratory in Lagos State and also engage its members to help the nation produce bacteria vaccines locally. The group also said it would offer its best to help reduce the menace of antibiotic resistance in the country.