Lab scientists raise concerns over significant rise in prostate disorders

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has raised the alarm over the significant rise in prostate disorders among Nigerian men and called for proactive measures to reverse the trend.

The group also called on the government to address the poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, toxic work environments, and other problems fueling brain drain in the health sector.

In a communiqué issued by the Lagos State Branch at the end of its 59th yearly Scientific Conference, themed: ‘Holistic Approach to Prostate Disorders: Integrating Multidisciplinary Strategies for Precision Diagnosis’, they noted that disorders such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer are becoming more prevalent in the country.

The communiqué jointly signed by AMLSN State’s branch Chairman, Abioye Omoyemi, Secretary, Nebo Chinwe and Chairman of the communique drafting committee, Adeleke Olaoluwa, the association said black men are 70 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men and nearly 2.3 times more likely to die from the disease.

AMLSN advised men to undergo regular health screenings, especially as they age, to facilitate early detection and treatment of prostate disorders adding that the recommended screening methods include Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests and other diagnostic measures.

The association urged men to be aware of their risk scores and seek medical advice promptly if they noticed any symptoms related to prostate disorders. It urged the government to improve medical laboratory infrastructure in public institutions and constitute the Board of MLSCN in compliance with statutory provisions.

It implored Medical Laboratory Scientists to engage in scientific research and development to create test kits, vaccines, drugs, an]d protocols adding that the standardisation of medical laboratories in line with ISO 15189:2022 guidelines is crucial for credible laboratory processes and outcomes.

According to the AMLSN, the adoption and implementation of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in medical laboratories are essential for ensuring accurate results, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and improved healthcare outcomes.

They appealed to the government] to empower the MLSCN to tackle issues of quackery and uphold regulatory responsibilities.

AMLSN emphasised the need to employ more medical laboratory scientists and interns in government facilities to address personnel shortages and improve training. The conference highlighted issues of multiple taxation in private medical laboratories and appealed to the Lagos State government for a reduction in taxes and fees.

They commended the state government for prioritising the health sector and called for continued improvements in medical laboratory services. The association also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support MLSCN’s accreditation efforts for both private and public laboratories.

Earlier, Dr Rufus Ojewola underscored the critical role of laboratory evaluations in diagnosing and managing prostatic diseases. He highlighted the importance of various tests, the challenges of misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, and over-treatment, and called for improved regulatory oversight.