ISN rewards ‘Lab Scientists of The Year’ with N1m

• Mamora urges finalists to work harder to remain at peak of profession

A Medical Laboratory Scientist from the University of Lagos Medical Center, Abiola Fashina, has emerged the  winner of ISN Medical Laboratory Scientist of the Year 2020.

Fashina who was rewarded with the sum of N1 million was among the 10 finalists shortlisted for the keenly contested competition, organized by one of the leading suppliers of medical diagnostic products and services, ISN Products Nigeria Limited.

Also, the first and second runners-up, Anayo Chidobu and Yahaya Usman from Ahmadu Belo University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, went home with the sum of N700, 000 and N500, 000 respectively.

According to the company, the award which was flagged off in June was aimed at recognising and rewarding the unsung heroes (Medical Laboratory Scientists) of medical practice in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of ISN, Mr Felix Ofungwu, said the reason for the award by the company was to encourage laboratory scientists who play vital and unnoticed role in the medical field.

He said: “For us in ISN, we always believe that proper and management of any patient is achieved by the accuracy of the diagnosis and the responsibility of that diagnosis is largely done by the medical scientists. 

“What they do is so vital but yet go unrecognized and thats why we came up with the idea of recorgning these unsung heroes of medical medical practice, the medical laboratory scientists,” he said.

Appreciating his award, Fashina thanked the organizers of the award, the institution that gave him the enabling environment to showcase his talent and his family members for their full support.

He said:”This award will further promote the practice of Laboratory quality management system, this will further give clinicians peace of mind and improve their confidence of patients in the healthcare sector,’ he said.

Fashina added: “ISN should know that it has planted a seed of greatness, not only for this generation but generations unborn. We will continue to save lives, we will continue to practice quality, and do all within our power to improve the life and well being of the nation through implementation of quality.”

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Health, Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora who was represented by the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Center, Ebute Meta, Dr Adedamola Dada, said laboratory scientists are very important components of the healthcare system.

He said: “We were able to make diagnoses of Covid-19 because of the Laboratory Scientists and other people who work in the laboratory.

“I’m happy that this company has taken it upon itself to recorgnise execellence. I am pleased with the very detailed efforts, processes and the quality of the people that chosed the winners,” he said. 

Dada also urged the 10 finalists to strive to work more to ensure that they remain at the very apex of the profession.

Also, the Chairman of the panel of judges, Prince Elochukwu Adibo, said the choice of the award will definitely go a long way to encourage Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria to dedicate more time and efforts to excellence and conformity to laboratory quality management system (QMS) in line with international standard – ISO 15189:2012 being the basis of which this assessment was predominantly made, knowing that such output will be recognized and rewarded.

He said: “This exercise was painstaking, strict with properly laid out criteria which included professional, educational, technical practice, personality presentation, eloquence, composure and versatility.

“The winner will be the Brand Ambassador of ISN and Medical Laboratory Science practice in Nigeria for the period.”

While recommending that ISN makes the award an annual event, Adibo also urged other well-meaning organizations to tow this commendable route to encourage improvement of quality standards in medical laboratory service delivery in our country.