Malaria and Typhoid are over-diagnosed and over-treated in Nigeria- Dr. Godswill Okara
The registrar of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCMLS), Dr. Godswill Okara has said Malaria and Typhoid fever have being over-diagnosed and over-treated in the country.
According to Dr. Okara who was speaking on the sidelines of the recently held epoch making induction and investiture of over 216 Foundation Fellows of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science, 9 out of 10 people who go to the Laboratory for Malaria test are usually diagnosed with Malaria and Typhoid Fever.
He said:
Speaking further, Dr. Okara said the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science was established to standardize the practice of the Medical Laboratory Science profession stressing that fake Medical Laboratory Scientists are everywhere in Nigeria and that the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria has tried severally to carry out an inspection on all laboratory facilities in Nigeria but there has been some form of resistance.
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| Dr. Godswill Okara |
According to Dr. Okara who was speaking on the sidelines of the recently held epoch making induction and investiture of over 216 Foundation Fellows of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science, 9 out of 10 people who go to the Laboratory for Malaria test are usually diagnosed with Malaria and Typhoid Fever.
He said:
“We have noticed that if 10 people go to a laboratory to test for malaria, nine persons out of the 10, would be diagnosed with malaria and typhoid. Malaria and Typhoid are over-diagnosed; over-treated in Nigeria.
Speaking further, Dr. Okara said the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science was established to standardize the practice of the Medical Laboratory Science profession stressing that fake Medical Laboratory Scientists are everywhere in Nigeria and that the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria has tried severally to carry out an inspection on all laboratory facilities in Nigeria but there has been some form of resistance.
“To tackle that issue, there was a time when the AMLSN taskforce went on an inspection of laboratory facilities in Nigeria, which is in line with the law, but many private clinics resisted them. They started calling the federal ministry of health, and before we knew, the special team was asked to step down.
“So with that kind of situation, when authorities who are supposed to hold these people accountable for their actions, are the ones protecting them, the innocent public will be at the receiving end,” he added.