NEWS POINTER

Late Sct. Lami Tomtsu   It was a dark cloud today as Sct. Lami Tomtsu passed on to the life beyond in an ill-fated autocrash along Jos-Bauchi road while returning from the  Young Medical Laboratory Scientists conference that was concluded yesterday 5th August, 2017 in Abuja.  The unfortunate death of this dedicated Medical Scientist has traumatised Medical Laboratory Scientists nationwide and indeed the healthcare sector. While at the YMLSF National summit, she participated actively and was invited to present to one of the Awardees, Dr (Sct.) Biodun Ogunniyi on behalf of the YMLSF. One of the participants, Sct. Obinna Eze has this to say on her role in the event yesterday  "She passed the microphone round yesterday for us all to air our views during the bye-law analysis. She gave me the microphone severally. She was so ready to serve. Sad to say Rip.'' Several calls from different quarters have called on the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists o...

Ahmed Makarfi  By Abimbola Johnson on July 12, 2017 The Supreme Court has declared a former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi the authentic national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The declaration follows a lengthened leadership tussle between a former Borno State governor, Ali Sheriff and Makarfi since the party lost the 2015 presidential election. The appeal was decided by a five-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, filed by the Makarfi faction.  Present at the Supreme Court weree Governors of Ekiti and Rivers states, Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike, a former Vice-Chairman of the party (South West), Chief Bode George, and the present occupant of the position in the faction, Chief Eddy Olafeso. Also in court were former National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a former Governor of Kano State and former Minister of Education, ...

www.naij.com - The Nigerian Senate has scrapped NNPC   - The upper legislative chamber also established three new agencies  - It said the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) is now under the new commission. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been scraped by the Senate. This is following the passage of the controversial Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).   NAIJ.com gathered that the Senate had on Thursday May 25, considered and passed the much talked about PIGB, after its clause by clause consideration. In place of NNPC, the Senate recommended the establishment of three new agencies to effectively manage the largely troubled oil and gas sector. Among the agencies established in the bill, is the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC), which shall be headed by a Chairman. NAIJ.com had previously reported that the Senate uncovered N10tr fraud in NNPC. The commission will also consist of Commission...

Lionel Messi  The leadership of Spanish club, Barcelona FC has thrown its full weight of support behind superstar forward, Messi as he is convicted of tax fraud. Barcelona have expressed their support for Argentine striker Lionel Messi and his father after the Spanish Supreme Court upheld their prison sentences over tax fraud charges. Five-time World Player of the Year winner Messi, who has been at Barcelona since the age of 13, was handed a 21-month prison sentence and fined 2 million euros ($2.25 million) for three counts of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009. “The club reiterates, once again, its full support for Leo Messi, his father Jorge Messi, and his family,” a statement on the club’s official website read. “FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu contacted the player’s family to communicate this support. “The family was very grateful, not only for today’s gesture, but also for the support the player and his family have received from the club throughout this proc...

It is no longer news or rumour that the Fulani Herdsmen have become the latest reason for security concern in Nigeria, not just to lives and properties but to the future of Agriculture and food security in Nigeria.  It is saddening that Nigerian Medical Doctors have assumed the herdsmen model.  They do this under the auspices of NMA, ASSOPON, ARD, MDCAN, etc.  In a similar way a typical Fulani Nomadic would accuse the national headache herdsmen of coming from outside the country, the NMA would persistently say that the physicians causing trouble with other healthcare professionals are their "half brothers", the pathologists who they say are engineering trouble here and there for want of duty or fear of extinction.  as a replica of the herdsmen ideology, who believe that their cows have more value than your crops, the Nigerian Doctors believe that every sub-sector of the health sector can be turned into their grazing ranch, a situation that can be best described ...

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is legally professionalized by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act 11, 2003 (MLSCNA). Section 29 of the MLSCNA provides that "Medical laboratory science" a. Means the practice involving the analysis of human or animal tissues, body fluids, excretions, production of biologicals​, design and fabrication of equipment for the purpose of medical diagnosis, treatment and research. Also, section 22(2) of MLSCNA, 2003 provides that: A person who is not a member of the profession shall not practise the profession or, in the expectation of reward, take or use any name, title, addition or description implying that he is in practice as a member of the profession. For the avoidance of doubt and proper enlightenment of the public, MLSCNA 2003 is the only law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that regulates the *practice* of MLS be it in the public or private health institutions in the country. Section 22 of the MLSCNA, 2003, forbids any o...

Jethro Ibileke , Benin Patients seeking medical treatment have been admonished to shun abuse of all antibiotics and non- prescribed drugs, in order to live a healthy life. A former Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor and a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, at Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Prof. Tatfeng Mirabeau, gave the admonition over the weekend. They spoke at an event organised by Lahor Research Centre, in conjunction with the Edo State Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), to mark the International Biomedical Laboratory Science Day, in Benin, with the Theme: “ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE: BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL THREAT.” Agbonlahor said all anti-biotics must be certified and prescribed by a trained physician, before they are taken by patients. He noted that it is the responsibility of Medical Laboratory Scientists to ensure that a proper diagnosis is carried ...

Friday Olokor , Abuja The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria , has called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to production of local vaccines . The organisation was reacting to the outbreak of disease , including Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the five Northern States in country. The National President AMLSN , Toyosi Raheem , made the demand during a press conference on Friday in Abuja , to commemorate the 2017 World Biomedical Science Day with the theme : “‘ Antibiotics resistance: biomedical laboratory scientists response to the global threat. ” While lamenting the collapse of the Local vaccines Production Centre in Yaba , Lagos State, he stressed the need for government to pay serious attention to emerging and re-emerging diseases . He also called on government to lay more emphasis on the production of local vaccines . Raheem said, “ The AMLSN is calling on all to rise up to the current challenge of meningitis type C that is claiming lives in our...

On behalf of myself and my foundation, Cancer Eradication Project (CEP) I write to felicitate with the renowned Epidemiologist, Sct (Dr) Bassey Enya Bassey. The fact that your birthday coincided with the International Biomedical Science Day is a lucid testimony of your inherent passion for professionalism. Punctuated with dexterity is your ingenuity of no mean repute. You have scaled the academic echelons and fixed yourself at the highest stratum. You have continuously advocated for equity, Poised in administrative reforms and dedicated to service to humanity. I am not only proud to identify with you as fulfilled Medical Laboratory Scientist but gratified that I have seen the Moses of our time. As you celebrate your birthday today, may you continue to celebrate and may your dreams and aspirations for AMLSN be fulfilled without hesitations. Once again congratulations! Sct. Daniel O. Johnson President cepnational@gmail.com

I read with keen interest the article by one AZOMA CHIKWE. The article passes as one of those banalities that often appear on topical issues to muddy the waters the more and this one typically added nothing new positively to the narratives of the discourse between Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pathologists. Yes, it contains some historical facts about the humble origin and evolution of the profession of Medical Laboratory Science as we know today but so what? Every profession has evolved. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that. God did not create any profession in His 7 days of creation! No profession was created on day 1 or any day for that matter. Today’s medical doctor evolved from the fads of medieval times that ripped off sick people. Everyone has a past and we Medical Laboratory Scientists are not ashamed of our own. I wonder if some of our doctors ever gave a thought as to why Hippocrates had to institute the oath that all aspiring doctors these days have to take before p...

International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IAMLT) established BLS Day in 1996 at the World Congress in Oslo, Norway to promote and celebrate the key role of Biomedical Laboratory personnel in diagnostic and preventive health care systems. Promote and celebrate The purpose with the BLS Day is to increase the awareness of the role that Biomedical Laboratory Scientists have in providing health care. BLS’ play an important role in diagnosis, quality development and assurance, treatment, research, development, and public health care. International BLS Day gives our profession a day to promote and celebrate ourselves as a profession. The theme is selected by the International Body (IFBLS) related with health issues and support the WHO Millennium Development Goals. BLS Day is the day for Laboratory personnel to promote awareness of our profession and the key role played by Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients and re...

Dr Bassey Enya Bassey a renowned Epidemiologist speaks on the prevailing Meningitis in the country. MENINGITIS  IN NIGERIA  - WHAT'S GOING  ON ? The ongoing meningitis outbreak in Nigeria is currently a source of grave concern. The latest reports indicate that since December, Nigeria had reported 2996 cases of meningitis across 16 States. Sadly, 336 Nigerians out of that number died. It is a sad moment for the country and we mourn the victims. Given the widespread nature of the meningitis outbreak, many Nigerians are fearful and anxious. However, as with any infectious disease, it is possible to prevent the spread once you understand the epidemiology of the disease. What is Meningitis? The brain and spinal cord have a protective membrane covering called the meninges. Meningitis is a condition in which the meninges becomes inflamed. This inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Types of meningitis include bac...

By Julia Edwards Ainsley and Dan Levine WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump fired the federal government's top lawyer Sally Yates on Monday after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and saying the Justice Department would not defend his new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations. The White House said on Twitter that Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, would replace Yates, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, as acting U.S. attorney general. Yates on Monday told Justice Department lawyers in a letter that they would not defend in court Trump's directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Yates said she did not believe defending the order would be "consistent with this instituti...