Dr. Sunday Etukudoh, Provost/CEO, College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – To effectively train a competent clinical group of Medical Laboratory Scientists that would meet the healthcare needs of citizens, the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, FCMLST, has appealed to the federal government to complete the many abandoned projects and address the infrastructural needs of the College.
The Management of the institution lamented that contracts for construction works awarded since 1983 are still stalled due to a lack of funds and lack of budgetary provisions thereby leading to a gross dearth of infrastructure.
Speaking in Jos during the commissioning of some completed projects and foundation laying ceremony at the permanent site of the College in Jos, the Provost/CEO of the College, Dr. Sunday Etukudoh said the institution, established 69 years ago still lags in terms of infrastructural development which could boost the performance of the staff and students.
He stated that the College requires, “the support of the Federal and State governments, the Federal Ministry of Health, organisations and private individuals to achieve its goals considering the immense professional manpower contributions to the health sector in Nigeria,” and appealed to the TETFund to “consider the College for support in the area of infrastructural development.”
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A former Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama who commissioned the projects commended the modest achievements of the College despite the numerous challenges and stated, “I want to commend the progressive metamorphosis of the College since its establishment in 1954 despite numerous challenges…
“As a pioneer institution established by the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health, I strongly believe the College should have been given a takeoff grant considering its critical role as a pioneer training institution responsible for the training of Medical Laboratory Scientists who are responsible for providing results that are required for effective treatment, monitoring and evaluation of patients’ recovery…”
Among the projects commissioned were the Basic Science Laboratory, the multi-purpose auditorium, and the multi-purpose Diagnostic, Research and Molecular Biology Laboratory while the foundation was laid for a new structure.
