How to reduce misdiagnosis of diseases in Nigeria, by medical laboratory scientists
Executive Director, ISN Medical laboratory Mr. Felix Ofungwu, has reiterated need to train and retrain medical laboratory scientists in the country as it remains the best way to reduce misdiagnoses of diseases.
He however, explained that causes of misdiagnosis include delay during the diagnosis process, human errors, quackery in the profession and personal biases about patients among others are common causes of misdiagnosis, which are increasing in the country.
He stated this during a press briefing to announce ISN Medical Laboratory Scientist of the Year award. He said the ward is a way of recognising and rewarding the efforts of medical Laboratory Scientist across the country including front line health workers in the ongoing fight against coronavirus, held at Ilupeju, Lagos.
He noted that the ISN award would run from June to November 2020 and entry is open to practicing licensed medical laboratory scientists while an erudite panel of judges will execute grading and selection of the winner in September while the grand final and presentation of prizes would hold in November.
The immediate past President of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Dr. Raheed Toyosi, said MLSCN is in full support of the project adding that the eligible, participant must have the requisite academic qualifications, must be a registered member of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and must be working in a registered medical laboratory or hospital. This is as much a recognition of the laboratory in, which the scientist works as it is about the science.
He noted that overall winner of the award will receive a grand prize of one million naira with a capacity development training with international partners and a donation of medical lab equipment/reagents worth one million naira to the lab or hospital where he or she works.
