Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Patients seeking medical treatment have been admonished to shun abuse of all antibiotics and non-prescribed drugs, in order to live a healthy life.
A former Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor and a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, at Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Prof. Tatfeng Mirabeau, gave the admonition over the weekend.
They spoke at an event organised by Lahor Research Centre, in conjunction with the Edo State Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), to mark the International Biomedical Laboratory Science Day, in Benin, with the Theme: “Anti-biotic Resistance: Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Respond to the Global Threat.”
Agbonlahor said all anti-biotics must be certified and prescribed by a trained physician, before they are taken by patients.
He noted that it is the responsibility of medical laboratory scientists to ensure that a proper diagnosis is carried out to enable the physician who is in charge of the patient use the correct drugs to treat the ailment.
“The organisms must also be subjected to what we call anti susceptibility sound test in laboratory performed by the medical laboratory scientists.
“Like we all know, bacteria, viruses, parasites are all having lives, just like human beings and as it is in the law of nature that no organisms that have life would like to be killed. We the physicians take the infectious disease with antibiotic but these organisms have rapidly develop resistance.
“The problem is that it is better to prevent the diseases than to cure it. Prevention is better than cure, that is why we are advocating for the use of vaccines, vital vaccines, to vaccinate people against the viruses.
“Vaccine itself does not kill the organisms. it is antibiotic drugs that will kill the organisms completely. Vaccines can only prevent the infections by the organisms. What we are highlighting here today is the growing development of resistance by organisms all over the world against anti-biotics.
“We should avoid the abuse of anti-biotics and to ensure the anti-biotics we use be prescribe by trained physicians. If the drugs are to be used, the correct dosage is required.”
The Don who stressed that the aim of the event is to sensitise members of the public about the increasing threats of antibiotic resistance, noted further that medical practitioners should learn to document their failures and successes in their course of their researches, as it would be of immense help to the public.
The Guest Lecturer, Prof. Tatfeng Mirabeau, advised patients to avoid misuse of antibiotics, adding that before the drug is taken, it should be subjected to a laboratory test.
Mirabeau, a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, at Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, who noted that abuse of the drugs will cause more harm to the patients, advised them to adhere to the physicians’ prescription before taking anti-biotics.
He added that medical laboratory scientists should move with the modern technology to solve patients ailments.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Dr. Raymond Uyiekpen Omorodion, said the aim of the event is to create awareness on the important role of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in providing health care delivery to the nation.
Dr Uyiekpen posited that medical laboratory scientists play a vital function in diagnosis, treatment, research development, quality development and assurance of public health care.
“We know the work we do, and its importance to the patients. We are the experts in our field and the very best people to carry our message. 70 percent of clinical decisions are based on the expert analysis of patients’ sample and the results generated there from by medical laboratory scientist,” he emphasised.