President of the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Professor Vincent S. Gallicchio is among reputable local and international speakers to address the 2012 Annual National Congress of the Ghana Association Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS).

The Congress will be held at Anita Hotel, Ejisu near Kumasi on the 10th -13th October, 2012 under the theme: “Strengthening Medical Laboratory Services and Systems in Ghana: Key in Promoting Quality Healthcare Delivery”.

The Association seeks this opportunity to professionally discuss prevailing public health issues and issues of mutual benefit to our nation, Ghana.

A statement released by Thomas Gyampomah, Chairman of Local Organizing Committee, said the Congress will discuss new operating procedures, initiatives and standards of work to equip members to discharging its professional duties synergic with current trends.

“There is always a positive correlation between a healthy population and a thriving economy. Pertinent to quality health care is the quality of diagnosis of prevailing diseases. It is thus important as a nation to focus on the workforce and personnel who are entrusted with the onerous task of providing quality, standardized and acceptable medical diagnosis”, said the statement.

Biomedical Laboratory Scientists are entrusted with the onerous assignment of providing quality diagnosis that is at the centre of treatment and management of diseases.

“Knowing the vitality of role performed by this crop of health professionals it is thus incumbent on Government, Policy Directors, Developing Partners and all stakeholders to critically focus on the training and retraining of this workforce to providing the efficient and quality medical diagnostic services expected of them”, read the release.

The three day National Congress will highlight the critical role of the Laboratory Scientists in health care delivery. The platform will also provide members the ability to interface on new scientific and professional methods of work.

Key speakers at the congress include Dr. Fazle Khan,Country Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Ghana); Professor Anthony O. Emeribe, President of the Federation of African Associations of Medical Laboratory Scientists (FAAMLS); James Sakwa, Board Chairman of Medical Laboratory Council of Kenya; and Mrs Linda Maue Gallicchio, Associate Director for outreach for the Rutland Institute for Ethics, Clemson University, USA.

Others are Dr. Clement Opoku-Okrah, Snr. Lecturer and Head of Dept. of Medical Lab. Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health, KNUST); BMS Michael Amewonye, Lab. Manager of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Central Lab); Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, and Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Rojo Mettle-Nunoo.

The statement called on the general public and the media for support to promote healthcare delivery in the country.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh