ALLMEDLAB: Before we get into question time, what can you say to Medical Laboratory Scientists nationwide to raise their morale vis-a-vis the postponement of the national conference?
Dr. Bassey: Section 16(iii) provides inter alia “An AGM and Scientific Conference of the Association shall be held in August of every year or at such other time as the General Meeting or National Executive Council may decide” absolutely this is what our constitution says and nobody can controvert it except we first amend the constitution. The NEO has the capacity to resolve the issue of shift in date. I see it as a constitutional responsibility that the NEO should be able to handle squarely, the constitution has clearly given them the responsibility. I will ask the body of medical laboratory across Nigeria to be calm. On my part I will appeal to colleagues to take it in good faith and see it as a sacrifice.
ALLMEDLAB: Thank you sir. Now tell us about Bassey Enya Bassey.
Dr. Bassey : I am Bassey Enya Bassey, a Medical Laboratory Scientist; I obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Benin, Benin City in 2003, M. Sc from the University of Jos, Jos in 1999 and B.MLS from the University of Calabar, Calabar in 1991, WAEC from School of Arts & Science, Uyo in 1984 and Primary School Leaving Certificate – Government Primary School, Egboronyi in 1979.
I have gained twenty-two years experience in the Nigerian health sector, over ten years in the United Nations System, experience in medical laboratory management, epidemiology, disease surveillance notification and response. In the World Health Organization, I have worked in over 35 states in Nigeria and two countries.
I possess exceptional ability to direct complex projects from conception to maturity. I am goal-oriented with strong leadership capabilities. I am also well organized, highly motivated, and detail-directed problem solver. Not to say the least, I am an excellent team player with proven interpersonal and communication skills. Currently, I am an Associate Professor in Epidemiology & Public Health Microbiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State.
I am married to Amaka, a pretty lady from Imo state and the marriage is blessed with two children.
ALLMEDLAB: Huge portfolio you have there, but what are your contributions to Medical Laboratory Science and the Association of Medical Laboratory Science of Nigeria?
Dr. Bassey : President, NUMELSSA (NIMELSSA) -1990, Chairman, AMLSN FCT Branch -1996-2005, National Financial Secretary of AMLSN; 2000-2004, National Secretary of AMLSN,2004-2008.
I was a member of Technical Working Group on the formulation of National Human Resources for Health Policy in Nigeria. I was also a member of the Expert Working Group (Sub-Committee), on the formulation of National Medical Laboratory Services Policy for Nigeria.
On my contributions to the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, I purchased and donated a parcel of land to the national association, initiated, nurtured and ensured the commencement of internship programme in the FCT, provided based-line data for the 2008 job evaluation across selected centres.
On the professional front, I was a member of the Committee on the production the primary draft of Act 11, 2003, a member of the Committee on the reviewed the final draft of Act 11, 2003.
I also produced the draft AMLSN Constitution 2004.
I was Secretary, Constitution review committee 2008, member, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Abia, 2001, member, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Delta, 2002, Chairman, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Gateway 2003, Chairman, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Abuja 2004, Chairman, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Garden City 2006 and member, NOC, Annual Scientific Conference, Bauchi 2008.
In nearly three decades, our profession has faced one of the greatest challenges in the history of professional development and growth. I recognize that nowhere in modern history has any profession encountered the obstacles and landmines as medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. These landmines range from the struggle for the commencement of degree programme in the mid-sixties, to the enactment of Act 11, 2003, Implementation of several approved circulars, Job evaluation, Scheme of service, Medical Laboratory Science Policy, Human Resources for Health Policy.
Today in the health sector, our scheme of service remain the only that has not been published comprehensively. I possess inert capacity to face these challenges.
ALLMED LAB: Sir people are saying you are not staying in Abuja; how will you combine it with your work when voted in?
Dr. Bassey : As already related in previous narration, I have worked outside Abuja in nearly 12 years now. I was voted as National Secretary in 2004 about the same time I joined the united nations system in Nigeria. It is instructive to inform you that in the period 2004-2008, I attended all national executive council meetings as it was called then; I was the “Secretary” of the constitution review committee which sat in Ilorin, Abeokuta and Calabar; their work span over six months. I also served in the think –thank committee as “Secretary”. This committee had the inaugural meeting in Abakaliki on the 21st July, 2006, 16th August 2006 in TOG Hotel, Port Harcourt; 2nd of June, 2007; Hilltop Hotel, Jos; 30th June 2007, Nelrose Hotel Asaba and 7th of July; Calabar, Cross River State.
I also served in the inter- ministerial committee that developed the national resources for human health policy in Nigeria. Again, this committee sat severally in Abuja, and Ilorin. We also collected data across Nigeria in the period under review. I was also a member of the technical committee that developed the national medical laboratory policy which sat for two week s in Shiroro Hotel, Minna.
The volume of time one has is meaningless if you cannot manage your time efficiently. In the national Assembly, I made several presentations concerning the National Health Bill, Surgeon General Bill, Federal Ambulance Authority Bill, Federal Medical Centre Bill, and the National Reproductive Health Bill. This has amply demonstrated my availability in all ramifications. Even in the current NEO, I have attended most of their meetings. How else can one show commitment to his primary constituent?
Prof DE Agbonlahor, AO Emeribe, MF Useh all lived outside Abuja, each of them recorded remarkable achievement. The bench mark here is the capacity you have.
ALLMEDLAB: Sir as a WHO staff, will you be able to leave your job when you have AMLSN assignment the same day and time?
Dr. Bassey : At WHO, am a civil servant just like any other civil servants. The only difference is that we in WHO are international civil servants, and the same rule applies.
ALLMEDLAB: Dr, one of the problems in the health sector in Nigeria is decree 10 of 1985; sir if vote in, how would you proffer a solution to this?
Dr. Bassey : This decree is the greatest injustice in the health care system in Nigeria. If elected, I would galvanize other Health Professional Associations to push for the repeal of this law, to allow hospital administration in the hands of trained managers. This is expected to save our hospitals the inefficiency seen presently in the management of these Institutions. It will also allow health professionals to concentrate on their areas of primary responsibility and competency.
I will advocate for the abolishing of the three directorates provided for in the Decree to allow health professionals rise to the position of Directors in the Teaching and federal medical centres and Hospitals to enhance professionalism.
We shall pursue the interpretation of the word medically “qualified”. Mr Obi is already in court in this regards. My administration will support and see the court process to a logical end. The decree has overall resulted in the following ills in our health care system.
− Overall life expectancy in Nigeria at birth is 46.7 years; infant mortality rate is 86 per 1000 live birth while maternal mortality ratio is 840 per 100,000 live births. This is according to the World Health Statistics. Besides, the continued neglect of the importance of addressing public health issues would make matters worse for poor Nigerians, most of who are at the receiving end.
− The major public health challenges Nigeria faces are infectious diseases, sewage disposal, health insurance, water supply, air pollution, noise pollution, environmental radiation, housing, solid waste disposal, disaster management, MLS-population ratio, population-bed ratio, population per health facility, payment system/methods, utilization of care, access to care, improper co-ordination of donor funds, maternal mortality, infant mortality, health financing, poor sanitation and hygiene, incessant doctors strike, disease surveillance, smoking of tobacco, brain drain, rapid urbanization, non-communicable diseases, alcohol abuse, environment degradation, road traffic injuries, etcetera.
There are grey areas that may require amendment, there is no strong provision on disciplinary measure to be taken against deviant members, and our electoral laws are not strong to promote equity, fairness and justice. There are no bye laws etc.
ALLMEDLAB: If you become President, how would you steer the ship towards empowering young Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Dr. Bassey : Since 2000 when Professor AO Emeribe initiated the first memo requesting the implementation of EEP, we have made tremendous progress, today, we have achieved EEP for intern medical laboratory scientists, and my administration will pursue global application/implementation of what has been achieved for the interns, by that I mean to say that all medical laboratory scientists must benefit from EEP.
These will form the main thrust of my administration; I will take necessary steps to ensure that they play a critical role in policies direction and decisions that would enhance the growth and development of the profession. I will develop YMLS into a major technical arm of AMLSN. The first practical step is to fully pay for the registration of YMLS with corporate affair commission. I will robustly fund her activities and position her to be able to effectively discharge the enormous, critical and specific responsibilities that NEO will give them from time to time. I will systematically engage the YMLS and form a synergy that will ensure turn around in the fortunes of AMLSN in many more thematic areas in the next three years. I have also developed a package that will enhance job creation
ALLMEDLAB: If elected, how do u intend to stop this scenario where job adverts are made in federal Tertiary Health Institutions and MLS is always left out; Is MLS not going into extinction like that?
Dr. Bassey We are going to systematically engage the FMoH, in the area of job creation using scientific and evidence based data.
ALLMEDLAB: How do you intend to carry all Medical Laboratory Scientists/Technologists including those working under university?Dr. Bassey : We have in the past worked for the unification of MLS in Nigeria, that is why if you see Act 11 of 2003, the dichotomy has been bridged. Now there is no BMLS nor AIMLS in our dictionary.
Capacity building in the area of mentorship, workshop, training including international sponsorship in rare areas will be our mainstay.
ALLMEDLAB: If voted in how would you bring harmony in the private sector?
Dr. Bassey : The comprehensive implementation of NHIS will be addressed. This is the area those in private practice will be captured.
ALLMEDLAB: How would you stop microbiologist, biochemist s and others from doing I T in the Medical Laboratory?
Dr. Bassey : We will pursue full implementation of provisions of Act 11, 2003. If done, we’ll succeed in stopping infiltration to the Medical Laboratory.
ALLMEDLAB: W e were made to understand that TETFUND is sponsoring our journal but we are surprised that they still produced 2012 edition in 2014. What is your take on this?Dr. Bassey : We are going to re-profile this journal to make it meet the ever increasing challenges. We will pursue online manuscript submission, processing, review and publication and also providing adequate logistics and financial support to the Editorial board. We’ll engage the services of a young medical laboratory scientist who has competence in ICT to join the editorial team of the journal.
ALLMEDLAB: Sir, how do you intend to repackage the outlook of medical laboratory science in Nigeria in terms of public engagement?
Dr. Bassey : My pledge is to dedicate my time, energy and resources towards building an institution that would be formidable, an Institution that would stand and be counted; one that will face the challenges of the 21st century and bring about positive reforms in the health sector. I will work assiduously in six thematic areas of legislation, income generation, establishment matters, job creation for young scientists, social-welfare services, public relations, capacity building and training.
In truth, the development of medical laboratory science is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in the quality of leadership in the past years; from Prof. DE Agbonlahor, Dr. NN Shidali, Prof. AO Emeribe, Prof. MF Useh, and Mr. R Manason to Dr. GC Okara; these were great men who adequately protected the profession from external aggression. In the past 22 years, I have systematically and deliberately build my capacity under the tutelage of Professor AO Emeribe and Professor MF Useh, as branch chair of FCT. I also had the opportunity of working under Dr. NN Shidali. I will by the grace of GOD work hard to make a proud son; work hard to surpass previous achievements.
ALLMEDLAB: If not voted in will you still support anybody that come on board to achieve all these?
Dr. Bassey : We are one family, election will not divide us, the strength I have is to support anybody that wins this election. Power belongs to the people. I will wait for the outcome of the election. I know I stand to be the best if you we put together my experience, exposure, contributions and innovations we have introduced.
ALLMEDLAB: How do you intend to carry Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Laboratory Assistant along?
Dr. Bassey : I intend to create a platform for Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Laboratory Assistant, that will encourage robust interaction.
ALLMEDLAB: What’s your dream about DMLS ?
Dr. Bassey : MLS. D is the brain child of Professor AO Emeribe and myself. We had visited the NUC to discuss modalities for the take off of MLS.D. We will pursue it to a logical conclusion.
ALLMEDLAB: WHO where you work as a state coordinator employs high med lab standards, how will you use your vast experience to improve med.lab practice in Nigeria?
Dr. Bassey : WHO is supporting the Federal Government to build laboratory capacity in Nigeria. The mobile Ebola diagnostic laboratory was donated by WHO. l
ALLMEDLAB: What will you do concerning our secretariat to have a permanent place?
Dr. Bassey : I will institute phased development of a National Secretariat for the Association using the parcel of land purchased and donated to the Association during my tenure as Branch Chairman of FCT. Provisions would be made for a conference hall, guest rooms, offices, internet facilities, etc in the first phase.
ALLMEDLAB: Thank you very much sir for your time.
No comments:
Post a Comment