“MLSCN IS PIONEERING A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IN NIGERIA HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE” – MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE
“MLSCN IS PIONEERING A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IN NIGERIA HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE” – MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE
The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) celebrated yet another landmark achievement of granting of the prestigious ISO 17043 accreditation onto her National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) and receipt of accreditation certificate on behalf of the Government of Nigeria on one hand and the presentation of the MLSCN ISO 15189:2022 accreditation certificates to eight deserving laboratories on the other hand by the Hon. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako. The colourful event took place in John Wood Hotel , Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, the nation’s capital on Thursday 30th January 2025.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN, Professor Tosan Erhabor, said in his speech that accreditation of the MLSCN National External Quality Assessment (NEQA) signifies a pivotal moment in the journey towards achieving global excellence in Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria. According to him, MLSCN has conducted External Quality Assessment otherwise known as Proficiency Testing (EQA/PT) for over 2,000 laboratories nationwide, thereby strengthening their respective capacities to combat major diseases such as Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS in line with global standards.
The Registrar added that “NEQAL’s attainment of the accreditation and re-accreditation back to back since 2019 represents a decisive step in sustaining quality and strengthening our healthcare infrastructure. The reaccreditation of the NEQAL by the South African National Accreditation Service (SANAS) to ISO 17043 is not just an achievement for the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria but a triumph for every Nigeria whose health and well-being depend on the reliability of our medical diagnosis system.”
Professor Tosan Erhabor, Registrar MLSCN
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako said in his speech that “I am happy to be part of the celebration heralding the award of the ISO accreditation on the NEQAL. It is a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare in Nigeria by adhering to various standards set by the international organization for proper standardization. MLSCN has not only elevated the quality of laboratory practice within the country but has also ensured that the results generated by medical laboratories are internationally recognized and accepted. The achievement has far reaching implication on the patients care, public health and the overall development of the healthcare system”
Dr Adekunle Salako, Hon. Minister of State for Health
The Hon. Minister stressed that, in addition to the NEQAL accreditation, eight laboratories got ISO 15189 accreditation from the MLSCN and these facilities will consequently produce results that are internationally recognised and acceptable.
He therefore congratulated the accredited medical laboratory facilities and encouraged other laboratories to take a cue from them by upscaling their infrastructures, strengthening of their manpower and improving their processes.
Besides, he commended the management and staff of the MLSCN for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to excellence. The Minister assured the management of the MLSCN that he will collaborate with them with a view to ensuring that all Medical Laboratories {both Public and Private} across the country key into the External Quality Assessment programme/Proficiency Testing of the MLSCN. He promised that one of his priority agenda is to confront quack in the health sector and that MLSCN should be ready to join forces with him to achieve it.
He concluded that MLSCN is pioneering a transformative impact in Nigeria healthcare landscape because this achievement served not only as cutting edge but also as a catalyst towards the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the representatives of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Defense (MoD), Global Fund (GF) and World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister and the MLSCN Registrar/CEO unveiled the certificate of accreditation as issued by the accrediting body, South Africa National Accreditation System [SANAS] to the MLSCN NEQAL.
The following medical laboratories received their ISO 15189; 2012 certificates from the Minister: Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Polymerase Chain Reaction/Antiretroviral Therapy Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s National Reference Laboratory, Gaduwa, Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, River State University Teaching Hospital Medical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, 68 Nigerian Army Medical Laboratory (Chemical Pathology, Heamatology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Immunology, Serology and Molecular Diagnostics), Lagos; Bwari General Hospital Laboratory, Bwari, FCT and Everight Diagnostics and Laboratory Service Limited, Abuja.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included but not limited to Director General of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, Mr Manason Rubainu, Dr Olajumoke Babatunde represented the DG NCDC, Mr Elom Emeka, Director in the Medical Laboratory Division of the Federal Ministry of Health and Adeyinka Jubril Kareem who represented the Country Director of the World Health Organisation.
Also in attendance were members of the Top Management Committee (TMC) of the MLSCN: Dr. Godwin Aikpitanyi – Deputy Registrar, Education & Admin; Dr. Donald Ofili – Deputy Registrar, Laboratory Accreditation Service; Dr. Gregory Uchuno – Director, Scientists’ Regulation and Discipline; Dr. Akinwale Akinlabi – Director, Health Laboratory Planning, Research & Statistics and Zonal/State Offices; Dr. Raxy Ekwebelam – Director, Corporate Affairs; Mrs. Ini Edeh – Director, Examinations; Mrs. Funmilayo Onakalu – Director, Technicians’ Regulation and Discipline; Dr. Fred Obioma – Director, Finance and Accounts; Dr. Monday Tokdung – Director, Laboratory Inspection and Mentoring and Dr. Donatus Ozuruoke – Director, Foreign Graduates and Continuous Professional Development.