Foreign trained medical lab scientists to train for 12 months from 2019 — Council
The training period for qualifying exams conducted by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) for foreign trained medical laboratory scientists will be 12 months from 2019.
Acting Registrar of the council, Sir Tosan Erhabor made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during a news conference organized by the council to mark its 50th anniversary.
The foreign trained graduates presently trained for seven months before they take qualifying exams.
Erhabor said that the extended training time would enable them have longer time to be trained to practice effectively in the country.
“The essence is to get them acquainted with the peculiarities in Nigeria. Because some of them might have been trained in countries that have no malaria or other parasites that are in Nigeria,” he said.
He said the council has recorded 60% success rates so far in the conduct of the mandatory training and qualifying exams, adding that the council targets a success rate of 100%.
The MLSCN boss said the council has been receiving accolades during induction ceremonies of foreign trained medical laboratory scientists for conducting examinations without hiccups.
He said: “We have three designated training institutions in the country for such purposes, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Jos University Teaching Hospital, and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.”
Erhabour said the council, which was established with the promulgation of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria (IMLTN) Decree of 1968, has recorded a lot of milestones in its 50 year existence.
He said several activities have been lined up to mark the 50th anniversary and include an anniversary lecture, chaired by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon at the International Conference Centre Abuja on December 4th.
Chairman of the council’s 50th anniversary celebration, Prof Francis Useh said it is not all the 28, 966 registered medical laboratory scientists that are practicing in Nigeria as some have moved to other countries to practice.