Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Tuesday, urged the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), to go into deep research, and channeling scientific findings to boost public health, and the setting up of a vaccine manufacturing company in Edo State.
According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa while playing host to the Edo State Chapter of AMLSN on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo stated, “As we speak, we still do not have a vaccine manufacturing company or industry in the whole of Nigeria.
“That, to me, is worrisome. This is the heartbeat of the nation. I think we should roll up our sleeves and do what other states in this country have not done before. Let Edo be the beginner.”
He appreciated the laboratory scientists on courtesy visit to his office at the Edo State Government House, just as he commended them for their contributions and medical interventions, which he said had given boost to the public health sector delivery system in the state.
Making reference to the campaign manifesto and five point SHINE Agenda of Governor Okpebholo, Idahosa affirmed, “After security, health is number two. We are laying so much emphasis on health. Edo State is going to be happy with what we are going to do with the health sector.”
Assuring the group of government’s interventions aimed at easing their stress based on raised areas of needs, Idahosa assured the scientists that he was going to work closely with “the think tanks in the health sector based on raised areas of needs,” as “government would look at the best way to proffer solution to some of these challenges.”
Edo State AMLSN Chapter Chairman, Dr. Ekhaguere Ehigie who earlier congratulated the Edo State Government for victories at the polls and in court, on behalf of the group, nonetheless took out time to highlight issues that plagued laboratory practise in Nigeria.
He advocated the setting up of modern molecular laboratories and use of Nano technology to boost disease diagnosis, accurate laboratory results and monitoring/surveillance of public health.