By Danmaryam Zayamu
The West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science has inducted 216 foundation fellows.
Also, a Nigerian, Dr. Godswill Okara, has been elected the Registrar of the College which will have its headquarters in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is part of the outcome of the 2020 Congress of the College which ended in Lagos, recently.
While addressing the media, the Registrar of the College, Dr. Godswill Okara, called on the governments of the ECOWAS region and all multilateral development agencies to partner with the College for the realization of its laudable objectives.
He, particularly, called on the Nigerian government to facilitate the development of the College Headquarters which is domiciled in Abuja.
Dr. Okara disclosed that 216 inducted fellows were drawn from different countries in the West African sub region.
According to him, the fellows were from Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Togo, The Gambia and Cameroon.
“The Foundation Fellows spread across the different specialties and sub-disciplines of the medical laboratory science profession are grouped in Faculties.
“They include medical laboratory specialists in Blood Transfusion Science, Clinical Chemistry, Histopathology, Haematology, Cytopathology/Cellular Pathology, Medical Bacteriology, Medical Parasitology/Entomology, Medical Virology, Molecular Diagnostics/Translational Science, Medical laboratory Embryology, Medical Mycology, Immunology, Cytogenetics, Forensic Science, Veterinary laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Instrumentation/Technology, General Medical Laboratory Practice, Medical laboratory Leadership/Management,” he explained.
Dr. Okara stressed that the College will foster and vigorously promote collaboration, cooperation and synergy with other stakeholders in the healthcare sector.
This, he said, he to ensure effective and efficient health service delivery and health research outcome for the benefit of residents of the region and the global community.
While explaining how the College will operate, the Registrar said: “The College will operate a multicentre training approach that will be hospital and industry-based, spread across accredited hospitals in the ECOWAS member countries and Cameroon.”
He reiterated that the College will partner and collaborate with relevant stakeholders for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the ECOWAS region.
Other regional executives of the college that were elected and inaugurated during the congress, he said, included Professor Nafiu Amidu, President (Ghana); Dr. Godswill Chikwe Okara, Registrar/Secretary General (Nigeria); Dr. (Mrs) Haddy Bah, Treasurer (The Gambia); Dr. Youan Gouanda Pascal, Assistant Registrar (Cote d’Ivoire); Mr. Adjodi Anabadedi, Assistant Treasurer (Togo); Representative of the DG WAHO, Council Member and Chairmen of Country Chapters were elected as Ex-Officio Members/Vice Presidents.
The College, however, applauded the support of the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Health of the Republic of Ghana, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu and his entourage; the Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamaora, and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, for their support and active participation which made the congress a huge success.
