KADUNA – The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, (AMLSN) has elected new leaders that will steer its affairs for the next three years.
The election took place on the sixth day of the just-concluded week-long AMLSN’s 53rd Annual Scientific Conference and Workshop in Kaduna .
Former president of FCT chapter of the union, Dr Bassey Enya Bassey, emerged president of the association, and will lead the group with other nine elected leaders.
A total of 1,350 members of the association from all states of the country and the FCT were accredited for the poll.
Devoid of any hitch, the election produced Bassey who has among others worked for the United Nations systems in Nigeria including the United Nations Children Fund and World Health Organization for over 13 years. He bagged his PHD from the University of Benin, Benin city in 2003 after earlier completing his MSc at the University of Jos in 1999.
Bassey worked in over 35 states in Nigeria and three countries, and among others served as Federal Capital Territory Administration’s medical laboratory scientist between August 1996 and January 2004.
He had made several contributions to the growth of AMLSN and had previously lost his bid to lead the association in previous polls until 2017 that he succeeded.
Bassey promised to reform AMLSN during his tenure. Some of the reforms he pledged to bring include reduction of payment of participation fee in the annual conference from N20,000 to N5,000; strengthening and dignifying Medical Laboratory profession and services in Nigeria.
He said his tenure would allow all licensed medical laboratory scientists to vote during election, even from their homes, in as much they pay the N5,000 participation fee and registered on social media platform that would be developed for AMLSN’s membership.
The elected leaders are: Dr Bassey Enya Bassey, President; Chief Chris Elemunu, National Vice President 1; Dr Emenike Felix, National Vice President 2; Dr. James Damen, National Secretary; Prince Adeyinka Adedire, National Assistant Secretary; Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, National Publicity Secretary; Margaret Oche, National Welfare Secretary; Muktar Mainasara Yelda, National Financial Secretary; Dr Gloria Achibong, National Treasurer.
Bassey said in his manifestoes that he would pursue the amendment of Cap 439 LFN, that is Decree 10 of 1985; pursue the establishment of Post-Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science; pursue full implementation of Act 11, 2003.
He said his administration would make a comprehensive assessment of all court judgments obtained so far by the union and ensure complete implementation. “If it becomes necessary, we shall engage the services of more experts in the bar to ensure actualization of this aspiration and provide technical and financial support to states and chapters currently in court.
“We shall pursue to a logical conclusion the establishment of a directorate of medical laboratory services in the Federal Ministry of Health; we shall work assiduously towards the full and proper implementation of the enhanced entry point of salary Grade Level 12 for medical laboratory scientists with appropriate adjustments to maintain seniority; we shall pursue the implantation of Nigeria National Medical Laboratory Policy; we shall appoint a dedicated National Assembly Liaison Officer.”
On internship, he said the association would collaborate with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and other relevant government agencies to pursue the actualization and full implementation of centralized internship posting for young medical laboratory scientists and would also facilitate the accreditation of more private facilities for internship; pursue an aggressive programme that would create employment opportunities for teeming young medical laboratory scientists.
