By Najib Sani Bauchi
Bauchi state branch of medical laboratory scientists association, has decried the proliferation of fake medical laboratories and quacks in the state, attributing it to the absence of an organised Directorate to coordinate laboratory services. Chairman of the Association, Yakubu Azeez, declared this at the opening ceremonies of this year’s Scientifi c Conference organised by the Association for its members drawn from the 20 local governments of the state. Th e event held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
He said the Association had no less than 1, 000 members in the state that included medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory assistants, alleging that impostors had taken over the profession, “opened sub-standard laboratories and give wrong diagnosis to patients.” “If the directorate of medical laboratory services is established, there is going to be good coordination and good services; and modern scientifi c services are going to be rendered,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to the state government and all stakeholders to consider the establishment of a Directorate with a view to helping the Association in fi shing out quacks and enhancing their services. Yakubu explained that the conference with the theme: “Laboratory Diagnosis, a Panacea to Infection Control of Emerging Diseases” was aimed at updating members on new diseases emerging around the globe. Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Dr Mohammed Alkali, commended the Association for organising the conference, saying it would go a long way in promoting professionalism among members.
