AMLSN Gombe Branch holds groundbreaking Investiture Ceremony for the 6th Set of Elected Executives.
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Gombe branch performed an Investiture ceremony for the 6th set of elected executives.

The august occasion, which took place on the 8th April 2016 at the prestigious Gombe International Hotel, brought together the creme de la creme of Medical Laboratory Science profession in Nigeria. In attendance were the AMLSN National President – Alhaji Toyosi Yekeen Raheem and Mr Manason Rubainu; a former National President of AMLSN cum former board member of MLSCN, who gave the Investiture Lecture.
The Chairman of the occasion was the National President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN). Other dignitaries included the Chief Medical Director – Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, the Director (Diagnostics) – Gombe State Ministry of Health, Permanent Secretaries, as well as leaders of sister unions and associations in the Health sector.

The high point of the colourful occasion was the decoration of His Excellency; the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo OON ( Talban Gombe), as the Grand Patron of the association in Gombe State. The Governor was represented by his deputy Mr Charles Iliya (Danruwatan Tangale) who was all through in smiles and in a clearly jubilant mood.
In his speech, the Executive Governor commended the contributions of Medical Laboratory Scientists to the healthcare system in Gombe State. He particularly applauded the efforts of Medical Laboratory Scientists in the diagnosis and management of infections such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Ebola and Lassa fever.
In his words, the government of Gombe State is ever ready to provide adequate diagnostic equipment to Medical Laboratories in the state and will strengthen the capacity of all laboratory personnel. The government will also ensure the institutionalization of a process for Laboratory Revolving Funds so that Medical Laboratories within the state will be able to provide timely, effective and qualitative diagnostic services.
The governor went on to promise that the state government will look into the plea made by the Association for the provision of land which will be used to build the Association Secretariat and MLSCN regional office.

Earlier in his valedictory speech, the outgoing Branch Chairman – Mr Tanimu Umar, congratulated the new Branch Executives and charged them to steer the affairs of the association with unalloyed dedication. He also counselled the new Branch Chairman, Comrade Abdulsalam Yakubu, to be tolerant and steadfast. In his words “to remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble; whether or
not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive, persevere and never give up. Giving up is never, and will never be, associated with Medical Laboratory Scientists”.

After he was decorated by the outgoing Branch Chairman, Comrade Abdulsalam Yakubu gave his acceptance speech in which he thanked the Gombe State government for constructing standard medical laboratories for the health facilities in the state. He charged the government to assist Gombe state’s Medical Laboratory Scientists in the areas of
training, accreditation and case management.
According to him “Medical Laboratory Science is a distinct profession endowed with the
mandate of applying the method of scientific experiment, observations and implementation of diagnostic results”. He thanked the National President of AMLSN for taking the time to be in Gombe for the occasion. He noted that the humility of the National President is exemplary and worthy of emulation.

The Investiture Lecture was titled “Professionalism and Medical Laboratory Science”. Mr Rubainu in his usual erudite manner, gave credence to the need for professionalism in Medical Laboratory Science. He defined professionalism as “the skill, good judgement and polite behaviour expected of a person trained to do a job well”. After going through the rigours of academic training and certification; Medical Laboratory Scientists, like all other professionals in the medical field, are given a license to practice. Licensure is the final phase of attaining professionalism by all practitioners.

In his goodwill message, the National President of AMLSN, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem, congratulated the new Gombe State Branch Executives and wished them well in their tenure. He said he had interacted with four of the last six executives of Gombe State Branch. He deemed it a necessity to honour the invitation based on reasons that made it a duty for him to be in attendance.
There was another goodwill message from the Acting Registrar of the MLSCN, Mrs Olufunke Omotuyi who was represented by Mr Akinwole Akinlabi. The Acting Registrar also congratulated the entire set of new executives. She sought for the cooperation of the State government on the implementation of the statutory mandates of the Council, by
providing logistics and other support to enable the achievement of Universal Health Coverage; not only for the people of Gombe State, but also for the residents of the entire North-East region.

Other highlights of the occasion included decoration of the Branch Executives by the newly-decorated Branch Chairman and the presentation of a honourary award to the Gombe State Chapter Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigerian (COREN).