By Chioma Obinna
As Nigeria celebrates its 50th independence anniversary, the country’s health sector has been described as inefficient. This indictment is coming on the heels of a recent United Nations report that indicates that the country may not meet the health goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it is not making sufficient progress in reducing maternal deaths.

Speaking in Lagos at the 46th Annual Scientific Conference & International Symposium of the National Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), with the theme “Current Trends in Medical Laboratory Science: A Tool Towards Realisation of MDGs”, National President of  the Association, Manason Rubainu said except things are put right, the expectation  of  better health for Nigerians may remain a dream.

Rubainu  observed that personnel output by Nigerian health professionals does not match the investment in the professionals.

“Why are health institutions in near bankruptcy in health administration and management? Why do a reasonable number of Nigerians seek medical attention outside their country?” He asked, noting that “We must all make sure Nigeria as a polity is properly fixed and her health system restored to good health.”

Expressing hope for the country’s health sector under the current dispensation,  he opined thatthe  recently inaugurated Presidential Committee to deal with issues of disharmony in the health industry was a pointer to the hope of a better health system.

As part of the contribution to improving the health indices of the country, the Association isorganising an international symposium that would look at the effect of global economic meltdown on health services and particularly medical laboratory  science practice in all its ramifications.

Lagos State Chairman of the AMLSN, Dr. Chukwuma Okafor who  hinted that the Association is making progress in checking activities of quacks in the State regretted that the practice of medical laboratory science is not where it should be in the state.

Okafor said a pilot study conducted by the Association in some secondary schools in the State revealed that many students of Lagos State origin wanted to study medical laboratory science but were frustrated because of non availability of schools running the programme in the south west, particularly in Lagos State.

“Currently, there is no directorate of Medical Laboratory Services in the State’s Ministry of Health. We plead with his Excellency who has a special love for good health care to give attention to this to enhance the practice of the profession in the State.”