COVID-19 : Medical Laboratory Scientists Donate 200 Vials of VTM, Other Items to Imo Govt

Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Imo State branch, had donated 200 Vials of Viral Transport Medium, VTM, to the State Government.

The Laboratory Scientists also donated 35,000mls of Phenol- based Hand Sanitizers and a Billboard for public sensitisation and enlightenment on safety against coronavirus pandemic.

The medical items were presented to Imo State COVID-19 Taskforce in Owerri, on Thursday, by AMLSN Chairman in Imo, Dr Kingsley Dunga who said that the medical items were part of the association’s contributions to the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the State.

Dunga addedthat the VTM are used to transport samples from their point of collection to their point of laboratory analysis without altering possible results of the tests, hence the role of medical laboratory scientists.

Dunga advised Laboratory Scientists to conduct more tests, urging the State Government to equip health workers with Personal Protective Equipment while providing them with hazard allowances as a form of encouragement.

According to the association, “as part of our responsibility to help contain and prevent spread of COVID-19, we consider it expedient to make contributions to assist the State Government on its efforts in the fight against Coronavirus.

A cross-section of Medical Laboratory Scientists posing with the Imo States Committee on Coronavirus Pandemic as they donate Medical items, recently in Owerri

“As frontline workers, we remain committed to this course and we urge government to continue to further equip us with PPE and hazard allowance as a way of encouraging us”, they maintained.

Receiving the items, Chairman of the Imo State COVID-19 Taskforce, Prof. Maurice Iwu, thanked the Laboratory Scientists for the donation.

Iwu eulogized the association for their efforts at educating the people in addition to their active involvement in field, laboratory and treatment protocols.

He however assured the association of government’s commitment to welfare of health workers during and after the pandemic.

“I thank you so much for coming to the help of the State and for your quintessential contributions at this time. “With our collective efforts, this virus will soon be a thing of the past. The battle is not yet over, but for as much as we obey professional guidelines and contribute our quota, we will win this fight”, Iwu concluded.

NAN