Efficient and reliable laboratory services and networks have been identified as essential factors in an effective and well-functioning health system.

In a paper entitled; “Meeting International Standards in Laboratory, Managing Director, Pathcare Laboratories, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, noted that high-quality laboratory testing is critical for patients care, prevention, disease surveillance and outbreak investigations.

Ajayi who spoke at a symposium organised by the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, HEWAN, in Lagos, said: “In sub-Saharan Africa, laboratory infrastructure and personnel are adversely affected by a lack of resources and prioritization.

As a result, the accessibility of laboratory testing and the quality of available services remains a serious challenge. It is therefore imperative that laboratory systems be strengthened within broader efforts toward health system strengthening.

“Few laboratories in Africa (only 340) are currently accredited. “The majority of the accredited laboratories are in South Africa, only 28 (8.2 percent) are in sub-Saharan Africa,” she noted

In Nigeria, Pathcare isthe only laboratory with ISO 15189 in addition to SANAS accreditations.

“Other labs in Nigeria can start with the WHO-AFRO stepwise accreditation approach and grow, it is important that these things are established here in Nigeria, we must not accept anything less than the best”, Ajayi said.

Chairman, BOT, HEWAN, Dr. Emmanuel Enabulele, said it was time for Nigeria to meet international standards in health care delivery as such step would reduce mortality and morbidity, improve  the country’s health indices and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

In her lecture entitled; “Breast Feeding: Nature’s Recipe for Babies” Project Director, Colostrum International, Dr.  Bunmi Ogundimu called on the Federal Government to establish breast milk bank  to assist working mothers and others that could not breast feed naturally.

Ogundimu also advised the government to establish crèches at work places so that working mothers can visit the crèches and breastfeed their babies during office hours.