Dr. Adeyeye Adetunji Tam, said treating all cases as though they were infectious is a sure way to prevent further cases, as the deadly virus has the same early symptoms as other ailments.
With growing spate of infections and deaths over outbreak of the Ebola epidemic, Laboratory Scientists have advised that Medical Doctors should treat every patient with same caution as they would when treating someone with the deadly virus.
Addressing a press conference at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr. Adeyeye Adetunji Tam, said treating all cases as though they were infectious is a sure way to prevent further cases, as the deadly virus has the same early symptoms as other ailments.
The full statement from the press briefing is reproduced below:
In view of the present Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic that is ravaging many nations in Africa, Nigeria inclusive, it has become pertinent to air our humble views on the Ebola Conundrum.
Since the unfortunate importation of the virus into Nigeria, various concerned groups and agencies have been seen to be doing their best in containing the deadly disease. We wholeheartedly salute the sagacious effort of all concerned in containing the disease especially the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government. We also sincerely commend the efforts of various state Governments across the length and breadth of Nigeria for their efforts at bringing this threat to humanity to a logical halt.
Medical Laboratory Scientists evidently play a vital role in the diagnosis and monitoring treatment of various diseases affecting human populations. In the prevailing circumstance, health workers have been identified as being at greater risk of contracting the Ebola Virus as they are the ones daily taking care of patients already affected by the disease. Already, Nigeria has recorded painful and highly unfortunate deaths of health workers in their attempt at saving the lives of their fellow beings. In this regard, we express our heartfelt condolence to the families of the deceased while praying for a speedy recovery of those still down with the disease.
Body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other body excretions have been identified as the main sources of human to human transmission of the virus. It’s noteworthy that these fluids are handled by Medical Laboratory Scientists on a daily basis. We are therefore highly prone to contracting the virus. In this vein, we call on all Medical Laboratory practitioners in Nigeria to ensure strict adherence to the universal safety precautions in order to safeguard themselves. All samples and patients must be treated as POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS even as they must ensure the proper use of gloves, laboratory coats, regular and frequent hand washing and other protective devices. We also call on Governments at all levels to immediately provide health workers in Nigeria the needed vital safety devices and inputs to prevent the spread of Ebola disease.
Emerging infections such as we are presently witnessing makes it a clear imperative for Government to upgrade our medical facilities and institutionalize operational public health laboratories in all the states of the federation. The public health laboratories must be managed by licensed Medical Laboratory Scientists, for optimum performance. We also appeal to the Federal Government to institute compensatory measures in respect of those who died from the disease.
Finally, these are very trying times in the history of Nigeria, nay humanity and as such we call on all our members to continue supporting the Government of Nigeria in the onerous task of mitigating the spread of the Ebola disease threat. While we continue performing our statutory functions in our nation's hospitals we as an Association reiterate our unalloyed support to the Government even as we remain open to offer any assistance that may be so needed from us. It’s a time requiring collective efforts and all hands must be on deck to safeguard our nation.
LONG LIVE AMLSN
LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.