PRESS RELEASE FROM AMLSN GOMBE STATE BRANCH

RE: GENOTYPE SCAM, HOW HEALTH WORKERS IN GOMBE ISSUE FAKE  GENOTYPE CERTIFICATES FOR A TOKEN.

Our attention have been drawn to a publication made by a reporter of WIKKITIMES with the above caption. As responsible professional Association, we got triggered over such professional misconducts and quickly swong into action by setting up an independent committee to unravel the details of what led to the fake results.

The committee quickly went into action and within a week was able to reveal the root cause of the fake results.

From our findings, it became very clear  that the people involved in such dispecable and  cruel act against humanity where not trained and licenced Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician and are not members of our respective association (AMLSN & AMELTAN) nor were they registerred with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

They were charlantans who impersonate and parade themselves as Medical Laboratory Scientists or Technicians. 

How they got into those PHC laboratories and how they were employed to work there was beyound our scope of investigation.

We therefore dissociate ourselves as responsible medical laboratory professionals from such scam.

It is important we use this opportuinity to educate and inform the public and government about whose responsibilities is it to handle human samples intended for use in diagnosing, treating and monitoring of patients health.

Medical Laboratory Science is a regulated professional practice. In order to ensure effective regulation of medical laboratory  training and  practices both in public and private diagnostic medical laboratories in Nigeria,  the Government of  General Olusegun Obasanjo GCFRN signed into law, Act 11 0f 2003 which gave birth to MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE COUNCIL OF NIGERIA.

The Medical Laboratory Science Council among other functions have the following responsibilities;

A. section 4(h) provides that medical laboratory science council shall “inspect,  regulate and accredit medical laboratories”

B. section 19 (1)(d)provides that the board of the council shall make rules for “the maintenance of good standard of medical laboratory practice and services in respect to regulation of private practice including statutory inspection, approval and monitoring of medical laboratories including thiose adjoined to clinics, private and public health institutions.

In essence, the Medical Laboratory Science Council is responsible for regulating laboratory investigations conducted towards ensuring accurate and reproducible results for appropriate health care services.

Furthermore, anybody who want to  conduct laboratory investigation on human samples for diagnostic purposes  must be properly trained and licensed by the regulatory council. In addition, you undergo professional retraining programme every year to renew your license to practice both as Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory technician.

The law criminalize any act by anybody to conduct laboratory investigation in the Medical Laboratory without been licensed by the regulatory body (Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria).

Section 18(2)state that” subject to the provision of this act, no body not beign a fully registered medical laboratory scientist under this act shall be entitled to hold any appointment in the public service of the Federation or state or any public or private establishment, body or institution, if the holding of such appointment involves the performance by him in Nigeria of any act pertaining to the performance of Medical Laboratory sciences for gain”

Section 22 (2) that a person who is not a member of the profession shall not practice the profession or, in expectation of reward, take or use any name, title, addition or description implying that he is in practice as a member of the profession.

As part of the outcome of our investigation, it will surprise the public to know that,  the laboratories at the PHCs are flooded with un-licensed personnels (particularly those that studied science lab technology, botany, Biochemistry, community health, environmental health, etc). 

The worst case was to note that as important as the laboratory investigations  in health care services to the citizens at the grassroots are, the PHC law of Gombe State do not take corgnisance of the service, to make deliberate provisions to accommodate representation of the professionals in the constitution of the board of the PHC and the department is not even in existence at the agency, meanwhile the PHCs are running all sorts of medical laboratory investigations without proper supervision, making them an avenue of fake results for tokens which jeopardises lives of residents of the state.

Where there is no existing department for a service , how well can such services be regulated as important as it is.

It is on this note we want to advice the healthcare providers and the Government at all levels, most especially, the Government of Gombe State, on the followings;

1- That Government should recorgnise and include the representative of Medical Laboratory Services in the board of the PHCDA in Gombe State to enable appropriate professional supervision and advice where necessary.

2- That the Executive Secretary of PHCDA should as a matter of necessity create the department of Medical Laboratory Services to take the responsibilities of supervising and  managing  the laboratories at the PHCs.

3- Gombe state is privileged to have several training institutions (both private and public) which are already training Medical Laboratory Technicians, and have graduated a good number of them roaming about without jobs. We also have un-employed  licenced Medical Laboratory Scientists looking for job here and there. 

 Therefore, we advice that those trained professionals  be employed at the PHCs laboratories as a matter of urgency  to save the lives of the innocent citizens at the grassroots facilities.

4- The government should involve members of the  profession  in the process of recruiting personnel for Medical Laboratory Services. This will ensure that appropriate personnel are engaged.

5- That the existing non-professionals should as a matter of urgency be released to other departments based on their requisite qualification, or seek further studies to acquire the pre-requisite knowledge for Medical Laboratory Services.

6- We call on the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria as a matter of necessity to arrest and prosecute those with fake licenses parading themselves as Medical Laboratory professionals.

7- We call on the authorities of the PHCs to abolish the act of accepting volunteer services as this predisposes such people to indulge in acts of misconduct to earn financial gain

As professionals and as an association we shall continue to partner with the government and relevant organisations in ensuring that we bring their attention to any act that is inimical to the service.

We appreciate the efforts of the investigative journalist and WIKKITIMES for the good job done to expose such grievous menace being perpetrated at the PHCs laboratories.

We shall continue to partner with the relevant media houses and encourage investigative journalism as a tool to save the life of our innocent citizens from the hand of dubious entities who do not value the dignity and sacredness of human life.

Thank you.

Ochacha Ahmed A.                 Bala Zakari                           Chairman                              Secretary                                          

 The attention of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Gombe State Hospitals Chapter, has been drawn to a publication in WikkiTimes, of September 25, 2022, authored by Hafsah Ibrahim Muhammad, captioned: "INVESTIGATION: Genotype Scam: How Health Workers in Gombe Issue Fake Genotype Certificates for a Token".

While we sympathize with the victims of this nefarious act by quacks, we will like to assure the general public that we will work closely with the relevant authorities to prosecute these crimes to a logical conclusion.

We equally want to commend the author of this investigative journalism for baring the activities of these quacks, and lending a voice to our cries for years, on the need to amend the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (GSPHCDA) Act, to make provisions for the establishment of a functional Department of Medical Laboratory Services. Indeed, the importance of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth cannot be overstated.

However, to put the record straight, and to educate the general public, AMLSN wishes to make the following clarifications: 

1. Medical Laboratory Scientists and Medical Laboratory Technicians are the only healthcare professionals licensed by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria to independently carry out medical laboratory investigations for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring of patients, and research. Medical laboratory technicians and assistants who are also registered by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (National Medical Laboratory Accreditation Agency) are permitted to carry out certain activities in the medical laboratories under the supervision of qualified medical laboratory scientists. Thus, any other person carrying out medical laboratory tests is deemed a quack!

Further, the Rules of Professional Conduct, along with the Minimum Practice Standards and Regulations, define professionalism in the practice of medical laboratory science. Hence,  medical laboratory scientists demonstrate an application of their ethical obligations through their professional and personal conduct.

2. The primary healthcare centres (PHC) in the state are under the purview of the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (GSPHCDA). 

3. There is no Department of Medical Laboratory Services to effectively and efficiently coordinate the activities of medical laboratory professionals at that level. Thus, most of the workers are not even qualified medical laboratory professionals.

4. AMLSN has on several occasions called the attention of GSPHCDA to facilitate the creation of the Department of Medical Laboratory Services to ensure the provision of quality medical laboratory services for the citizens of the state at the level of PHC, being that PHC is the "front door" of the health system and provides the foundation for the strengthening of the essential public health services. However, to date, this issue has not been addressed, unfortunately.

5. It is evident from the report that all the quackeries were perpetrated at the primary healthcare centres and some private health establishments where our medical laboratories are often manned by unqualified professionals. 

Furthermore, it is important to note that the aims of primary health care overlap with those of universal health coverage, which aims to ensure access to essential health services and safe, effective and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all people. All these would not be achievable in the absence of quality medical laboratory services, since the practice of modern medicine is evidence-based, and research has put it that up to 70% of clinical decisions are informed by data from medical laboratories.

Conclusion

Accordingly, AMLSN wishes to call on the general public to be wary of quacks parading as medical laboratory professionals. Also, they should boldly request or look out for the MLSCN logo when accessing the services of a medical laboratory whether located in a clinic/hospital or a private facility.

Secondly, for the umpteenth time, we call on the attention of the Gombe State Government to amend the GSPHCDA Act and other relevant healthcare Acts to make for the inclusion of medical laboratory services for the benefit of the citizenry. 

Finally, we wish to draw the attention of the proprietors of private healthcare facilities to eschew the culture of cutting corners by employing only qualified medical laboratory professionals to man their medical laboratories. Otherwise, the long arm of the law is bound to catch them.

Lynn Maori

Chairman

AMLSN GOMBE STATE HOSPITAL'S CHAPTER.

THE TRADE UNION ACT 2005 AS AMENDED NGIGE ERRED IN THE FACE OF THE LAW . By Comrade Ayodele Aaron

One wonders sometimes in Nigeria how some political office holders who seemingly suffer from severe mental incapacity are increasingly allowed to thrive with their notoriety to cause confusion, institutionalise abnormalities and illegalities, and official declaration for the adoption of impunity. 

It is rather unfortunate that some exalted political offices in Nigeria that should provide leadership for optimal gains and societal benefits are reserved for some set of notorious drunkards who usually embrace gross abuse of office, and shamelessly express sheer sentimental attachment with absurdity, lawlessness, and executive rascality. 

Such is the case of the current minister of labour and productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige. Right from the outset of his appointment into the Labour ministry, Ngige has always represented the opinions and norms of another society that is actually not in Nigeria. And it is quite amazing how he has consistently thrown the labour industry into a state of anomie. For how long will the Federal Govt permit such a lousy minister who has demonstrated he has nothing to offer than noise-making and deployment of crude and anachronistic methodologies that are not compatible with the 21st century Democratic and civil model in the handling and management of labour affairs. 

I have watched the ongoing impasse between ASUU and Federal Govt closely. And I do suspect just like in any other union agitations against Government generally that if only the Government can be sincere, a workable solution can actually be set up. But what is the priority of the Federal Government? Of course, we have always known that the greatest plot by many Nigerian politicians is to de-emphasize education in this country so that invariably we can have a society that produces more of illiterate thugs that are valuable to their trades. If not, I don't see how any Government would allow the closure of its universities for so many months under whatever circumstances and reasons. 

The Labour minister, a medical Doctor and his colleagues have succeeded in destroying the health sector via their unjust, uncivil, and highhanded practices. While we are still breathing for solutions, they have also migrated to the Education sector to cause further damage. The intellectual community should do whatever it can to avert this disaster. There should be something left for us in this country to be proud of. 

I read from some media outlets that Dr. Ngige has registered two new trade unions at the university. As if that was not embarrassing enough, we saw pictures of how certificates of Registration were presented to the new union leaders ceremoniously by a minister who should be restless,  intelligently engaging and passionately offering to ensure that the gates of the universities are opened again for our Children. Rather than finding a solution as a leader, he is busy scheming, and building conspiracy to bring down ASUU. When we told the whole world that Doctors are the reasons our health sector is what it is today, many did not believe it. Why is it that one of the two newly registered illegal unions i.e the  National Association of Medical and Dental Academics NAMDA)  belongs to Dr. Ngige's profession? I still cannot fathom how creating a union for only medical doctors in the university can solve ASUU demands from the federal Government.  How did Ngige err in the face of the law by his recent show of unimaginable expression of unfortunate registration of two additional unions in the universities? 

Fundamentally, Trade Union means a combination of workers or even employers in a particular TRADE, profession, industry e.t.c. that protects the right of workers.  

The trade union act 2005 as amended has its own statutory definitions as well that is more elaborate and that are derivations of statutory considerations in the protection of freedom of association. The Act also provides for rules and regulations for the administration and control of all trade unions in Nigeria viz : registration, operations, responsibilities, prohibitions, check off dues regulation among many other functions. 

But in the case of the newly registered illegal unions by Dr. Ngige, the provisions of the trade union Act is clear in Section 3 Subsection 2. This section states that

 " No combination of workers or employers shall be registered as a trade union save with the approval of the minister on his being satisfied that it is expedient to register the union either by regrouping existing trade unions, registering a new trade union, or otherwise howsoever, but no trade union shall be registered to represent workers or employers in a place where there already exists a trade union". [1978 No. 22.].

With the above provision, Dr. Ngige has once again shown that he is not vast with the knowledge of labour or union movements in Nigeria. And this is a lesson for us all that in this country, we must learn to allow technocrats to occupy sensitive positions such as this. Is the Minister aware that it is unlawful to have proceeded with such registration? Perhaps no. Did he consult widely on those applications for registration? No. Does he have genuine intention to approve the registration? No. Why then should the Federal Government look away from the overbearing attitudes of a minister to further aggravate and exacerbate the fragile education sector rather than providing solutions?  Will the Federal Government be proud of a minister formulating problems to solve problems? 

Therefore, I will advise the leadership of ASUU to quickly approach a court of competent jurisdiction to declare the registration of the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and   Congress of Nigerian University Academics ( CONUA)  illegal. The minister should come back to the round table with the ASUU and justify why he was appointed the Labour minister by brainstorming and harvesting solutions from critical stakeholders and not using divide and rule to cover up for his inefficiencies. 

Finally, political leaders should learn from the international communities where people resign their positions whenever it does appear that available capacities can no longer provide for expected solutions. You must not get fixated on a position you have lost control over. If the minister has lost steam as evident currently, let him resign. 

Comrade Aaron Ayodele

Writes from Kogi State.