The Federation of West African Medical Laboratory Science has opened its first conference in Lomé, Togo, to address challenges posed by epidemics and strengthen public health preparedness across Africa.
The three-day conference, which began on Wednesday, brings together medical biologists from West Africa under the theme, “Medical Biologists and Public Health in West Africa: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects.”
The experts are expected to examine lessons from previous disease outbreaks, identify gaps in diagnostic services and develop recommendations for governments across the region.
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President of the Sierra Leone Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Dr Arthur Garber recalled the critical role played by medical laboratory scientists during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
Garber said the country could have recorded significantly more deaths without the contribution of laboratory scientists, particularly in disease diagnosis.
He said the Ebola outbreak exposed major weaknesses in Sierra Leone’s diagnostic capacity, including inadequate engagement of qualified professionals.
The conference is expected to draw on experiences from across Africa to develop practical recommendations for strengthening epidemic preparedness and response.
The medical experts are also calling on African leaders to prioritise epidemic prevention measures and invest in stronger diagnostic systems to improve the continent’s ability to respond to future outbreaks.
Africanews
