The Sokoto State Government said it has sent 239 medical laboratory scientists back to school to upgrade their knowledge and prepare them for professional licensing before allowing them to continue their work under the state ministry of health.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal dislcosed this when he received the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Sokoto Government House.
Tambuwal said, “We have sent 230 holders of Ordinary National Diploma (OND), who are presently working in our medical laboratories, for a one-year abridged programme at the Sultan Abdulrahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, to update their knowledge and enable them write council examinations and become certified laboratory technicians.
“Our intention is not to remove any staff from our laboratories. We will give them the opportunity to certify themselves and meet the requirements of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.”
Tambuwal said the state had also taken over the National Blood Transfusion Centre, Sokoto and so far, all its staff have been absorbed into the state civil service.
In addition to other measures, The governor said the government had also established a fully equipped bio-medical engineering complex, a library, workshop, fabrication and maintenance unit.
“The Sokoto State Laboratory Quality Management Task Team has been inaugurated and is charged with the responsibility of ensuring quality in laboratory services and avoid false results that may endanger lives,” he added.
In his remarks, the minister of state said he was in Sokoto to inaugurate the nationwide inspection of medical laboratory science equipment.
He said the inspection was important because medical laboratory science deals with clinical examination of patients, hence the need to upgrade the service to tackle challenges for quality service delivery.
