Medical lab scientists advocate standards, regulation in healthcare

The three-day 60th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, has ended in Umuahia, with a call to the Federal Ministry of Health to approve the re-commencement of inspection and monitoring activities immediately.
This was even as the National Assembly, through the Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, reaffirmed legislative commitment to the growth and development of medical laboratory services in Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the weekend on the conference with the theme ‘Current Innovations in Medical Laboratory Services: Navigating Global, Regional and Local Healthcare Realities,’ and signed by the National President, Dr. Uche Odionyenma, the National Secretary, Abdulsalam Yakubu, and the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Sub-committee, Adeleke Olaoluwa, the laboratory scientists requested for the re-commencement of “inspection and monitoring of quality medical laboratories in the country,” as well as the mandatory inspection of all public and private medical laboratories by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, which they said is essential to ensure the quality of diagnostic services.
They also called for the empowerment of the Advisory Committee on External Quality Assessment, support for the Laboratory Technical Working Group, and the urgent need for the establishment of a Department of Medical Laboratory Services in the Federal Ministry of Health, as recommended by the Nigerian National Medical Laboratory Policy of 2007, noting that this will enhance implementation of the 2023 goals of the laboratory scientists.

They reviewed the challenges posed to public health by the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, adding “The conference strongly condemned the leadership of Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, which has remained unchanged since 2008 (over 16 years), contrary to extant public service rules,” and called for the immediate upgrade of FCMLST to a National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science via its enabling law to focus on advanced professional education, research, and innovation.”
The communiqué added, “The current programs and structure of FCMLST fail to align with global best practices, compromising the quality of graduates and medical laboratory services” and disapproved an alleged illegal gathering organized by “a few disgruntled members held from 13th to 15th November 2024 at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri, Imo State” and condemned the resolutions of the gathering, reaffirming their baselessness and divisiveness.
AMLSN restated its commitment to unity, professionalism, and adherence to lawful practices within the profession and its commitment to addressing brain drain and manpower challenges and strongly advocated for the national accreditation and quality improvement of medical laboratory services in all tertiary health institutions to reduce capital flight associated with medical tourism by Nigerians, accredited public facilities provide quality medical laboratory services and Nigeria needs increased numbers of accredited public medical laboratories.
They recommended centralized internship placement, improved remuneration and conditions, and strengthening the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria’s regulatory role, while resolving the strengthening of Medical Laboratory Services, empowering MLSCN as the sole regulatory authority for medical laboratory science in Nigeria, upgrading FCMLST to NPCMLS, accompanied by an immediate change in its leadership, improving infrastructure and standards, modernizing laboratory infrastructure in public institutions to meet ISO 15189:2022 standards, review and restructure of outdated training programs to produce globally competitive professionals and to address medical laboratory services manpower challenge. Related News
They further urged for the “issuance of a directive to the National Council on Health for the employment of more medical laboratory scientists to run functional primary healthcare centre laboratories in all 774 council areas.
This measure, they averred will increase access to quality diagnostic services and strengthen public health outreach, establishment of a centralized internship placement system to ensure standardized training for medical laboratory science graduates and seamless integration into the workforce, improve remuneration and working conditions to retain skilled professionals, expansion of  postgraduate and fellowship opportunities for career development, and employment of more medical laboratory scientists to strengthen all levels of healthcare (primary, secondary and tertiary) and public health outreach.”
Earlier, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, represented by the federal commissioner representing Abia at the National Population Commission, Trumps Emma Eke, assured that the National Assembly will prioritize bills and policies aimed at strengthening medical laboratory services and addressing gaps in regulation, infrastructure, and professional training.
Kaley said that the legislative support will be provided to empower the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria as the sole regulator and to upgrade the FCMLST to an NPCMLS, assuring further that the legislature is committed to improving healthcare budgets to modernize infrastructure and promote innovation in medical laboratory services for Nigerians.
In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Prof. Madu Ebibisi Ofor Iwe, emphasized the importance of innovation in diagnostics and healthcare delivery, stating that innovation in medical practice is essential for improving healthcare outcomes and ensuring better health and well-being.
Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to healthcare reforms, the conference noted the rising inflation that has continued to impact healthcare affordability and delivery, adding that persistent insecurity disrupts healthcare access and workforce safety, and requires urgent governmental intervention.
Declaring open the conference which was chaired by Prof. D.E. Agbonlahor, the state governor, Alex Otti, represented by his Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, through the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Kalu, said his administration places priority on health, hence his various transformative projects in the sector through budgetary appropriation and infrastructure upgrade.

Scaling AI across business functions

IntroductionScaling AI across business functions is no longer a luxury reserved for tech giants. Today, it has become a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to stay competitive in an increasingly data-driven world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from being a standalone tool to an integrated part of various industries, creating value across operations, marketing, finance, and more. The challenge is not just deploying AI in one department but successfully scaling it to create a cohesive and transformative impact throughout the organization.Also Read: Cognitive Insight and Artificial Intelligence: An OverviewTable of contentsBenefits of Scaling AI in OrganizationsImproved efficiency is one of the most significant advantages of scaling AI across business functions. By automating routine and repetitive tasks, AI allows employees to focus on strategic problem-solving and innovation. This operational enhancement can lead to faster turnaround times, fewer errors, and cost savings, making the business more agile and competitive. Scaling AI ensures these benefits are not limited to silos but are felt across the entire organization.Customer experience is another critical area that benefits from scaled AI. Using AI-powered tools like chatbots, recommendation engines, and sentiment analysis platforms, businesses can provide personalized solutions and improve customer satisfaction. When scaled, these tools enable consistent and uniform service delivery across different touchpoints, leading to broader customer engagement.AI scalability also fosters data-driven decision-making. As data grows exponentially, it becomes nearly impossible for traditional methods to analyze and leverage it effectively. AI systems that are scaled across functions collect, process, and analyze data in real-time, turning it into actionable insights. Businesses can then make faster, more informed decisions that drive growth and innovation.Also Read: AI Transforms Images into 3D WorldsSteps to Scale AI EffectivelyScaling AI starts with a robust and clear strategy. Businesses need to define their objectives and identify which AI applications align with their goals. Start small with pilot programs to validate the success of AI initiatives before rolling them out on a larger scale. This approach minimizes risks and helps calibrate the underlying models for better functionality.Cross-departmental collaboration is crucial when scaling AI. Each business function generates unique data and has specific goals. To implement AI successfully, all departments must collaborate to share insights and refine processes collectively. Establishing a dedicated AI team can centralize efforts and streamline the transition.Investing in the right infrastructure is necessary to make AI scalable. Cloud computing solutions, machine learning platforms, and real-time analytics tools ensure that the business has the computational and storage capabilities needed for AI workloads. Strong governance and regular evaluation should also accompany infrastructure enhancements to measure the scalability and effectiveness of existing AI solutions.Challenges in Scaling AI SolutionsData integration is one of the most complex challenges that businesses face when scaling AI. Organizations often operate with fragmented data systems that are incompatible with each other, making it difficult to aggregate and analyze information cohesively. Poor data quality and lack of uniformity in data collection processes can severely hinder AI functionality.Cultural resistance is another hurdle to scaling AI. Employees may resist AI adoption due to fear of job displacement or a lack of understanding of its potential benefits. Without proper communication and training programs, achieving buy-in from all stakeholders can be problematic, slowing down the scalability process.Regulatory compliance and ethical considerations also present significant obstacles. Organizations must ensure their AI systems meet legal requirements and align with ethical standards, such as data privacy and unbiased decision-making. Failure to address these concerns can result in reputational damage and legal penalties, derailing AI scalability initiatives.Also Read: New Materials Boost AI Processing SpeedBest Practices for Cross-Departmental AI AdoptionOne of the best practices for cross-departmental AI adoption is fostering a culture of collaboration. Each department must view AI as a tool that enhances its operations rather than as a competitor. Training and workshops help employees to understand the role of AI in their daily tasks and how it serves the larger objectives of the business.Setting clear goals for AI implementation is essential. Each business function must define specific objectives, such as improving customer satisfaction, increasing operational efficiency, or enhancing data collection. Align these goals with the overall business strategy to ensure seamless adoption.Another practice is leveraging cross-functional teams to oversee AI projects. A blend of data scientists, IT professionals, and business leaders can guide the integration process. This team should communicate regularly to address challenges, track progress, and update strategies based on outcomes.Integrating AI into Legacy SystemsIntegrating AI into legacy systems is a significant barrier that many organizations encounter. These outdated systems are often incompatible with modern AI platforms, requiring upgrades or complete overhauls. A phased approach minimizes disruption during the integration, ensuring business continuity while deploying AI capabilities incrementally.Middleware solutions offer a way to bridge the gap between legacy systems and AI technologies. Middleware acts as an intermediary layer that enables data exchange, allowing legacy systems to communicate with AI applications. This approach reduces the need for expensive system replacements, making the integration process more feasible.Legacy system integration must also account for cybersecurity risks. Modernizing old systems with AI technologies exposes vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. A robust cybersecurity framework is crucial for safeguarding data and ensuring compliance during the transition to AI-driven operations.Also Read: Former Google Executives Launch AI Operating SystemMonitoring AI Scalability SuccessOnce AI solutions are scaled, measuring their success becomes critical. Key performance indicators (KPIs) offer a way to track the effectiveness of AI implementations. Metrics like process automation rates, error reductions, and customer satisfaction improvements provide insights into whether scalability goals are being met.Real-time analytics platforms are instrumental in monitoring scalability success. These tools can collect data from across the organization and generate reports on how effectively AI systems are performing. This constant feedback loop enables businesses to fine-tune AI applications for better results.Employee and customer feedback also serve as valuable inputs in evaluating AI scalability. Direct experiences provide qualitative data that can highlight areas needing improvement. Combining qualitative and quantitative assessments ensures a comprehensive understanding of AI’s impact across business functions.Case Studies on Scaling AIOne example of successful AI scalability is Amazon. The company uses AI for various functions, such as logistics, marketing, and customer service. By integrating AI into its supply chain, Amazon has optimized inventory management, reduced delivery times, and improved customer satisfaction. Their recommendation engine, which accounts for a significant portion of sales, is another testament to the power of scaled AI.Netflix is another organization that has successfully scaled AI. The streaming giant uses AI to personalize user experiences, determine content quality, and manage its global content delivery network. Their data-driven approach, powered by AI, has been instrumental in retaining customers and ensuring a seamless viewing experience across regions.Financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase have also adopted AI on a large scale. From fraud detection to credit risk analysis, AI applications are transforming how they operate. Machine learning models analyze vast amounts of financial data to offer insights, improving decision accuracy and customer trust simultaneously.Measuring Scalability ROIUnderstanding the return on investment (ROI) of scaled AI initiatives is essential for businesses to measure the outcome of their efforts. Calculating ROI involves assessing both tangible and intangible benefits alongside the costs incurred. Tangible measures include revenue growth, cost reductions, and efficiency improvements, while intangible benefits encompass innovation and enhanced customer satisfaction.The time-to-value metric is another critical factor in measuring scalability ROI. It signifies how quickly the AI solution begins delivering its intended value after full implementation. Shorter time-to-value periods indicate effective planning and execution during scaling, reflecting positively on ROI.ROI measurement should also include scenario-based evaluations. Businesses can simulate how AI systems would perform under different conditions, such as scaling to new departments or handling larger datasets. This forward-looking approach helps assess long-term gains and prepares the organization for future expansions.Also Read: Addressing customer concerns about AIConclusionScaling AI across business functions is a transformative process with immense potential. From improved efficiency and decision-making to superior customer experiences, the benefits justify the effort. While challenges such as data integration and cultural resistance exist, they can be mitigated with the right strategies and practices. Real-world examples from Amazon, Netflix, and others underscore the importance of investing in AI scalability to remain competitive. With careful planning and a focus on measurable outcomes, businesses can ensure seamless and successful AI adoption at scale, unlocking unprecedented growth and innovation.ReferencesJordan, Michael, et al. Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans. Penguin Books, 2019.Russell, Stuart, and Peter Norvig. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson, 2020.Copeland, Michael. Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press, 2019.Geron, Aurélien. Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow. O’Reilly Media, 2022.

Video: At 102, Woman Fulfils Dream To Visit Australia, Completes Bucket List Of Travelling To All 7 Continents

Travel enthusiasts can pack their bags anytime and get going on a new trip. When touring different landscapes across the world is your only goal and the ultimate desire in life, age doesn’t really matter. 102-year-old woman named Dorothy Smith, who lives in the San Francisco retirement village, recently flew to Sydney, Australia to strike off her last destination on her bucket list. With this, Smith had travelled across all continents, while also probably being the oldest one to do so. It all started when Dorothy was having an usual day at her residence and two youngsters knocked her door asking her to revive her love for travel. Ammar Kandil and Staffan Taylor, YouTubers of the channel “Yes Theory”, approached the elderly woman to join them on a trip to Australia. Watch video

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How did her Australia trip come true?
While she revealed that it initially felt unreal for her when the duo mentioned to take her along on a foreign tour, she dared to trust them and take the flight to her uncovered destination. The woman told media outlets she “thought it was a scam when two strange men said they would take her to Australia But it wasn’t”.
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It was seen that the YouTubers lived up to their promise and recorded an entire travel video of the trio’s trip to the last continent on the lady’s list. Visuals showed them assisting the woman with a wheelchair as they visited travel attractions in Australia.
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102-year-old has now travelled across all 7 continents “She is so powerful and still moves, and if anyone can go to Australia at 102 years old, it is Dorothy”, the YouTubers said.
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Dorothy had already travelled to the other continents. And it was only Australia that was remaining to fulfil her wish to visit all seven continents. The 102-year-old had visited Asia, North America, South America, Antarctica and Europe but had never been to Australia. However, no she has no continent left. With her recent flight to Australia, she completed her wish to travel all continents.

Shahrukh would have left the film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho midway??

Shah Rukh Khan: Shahrukh would have left the film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho midway, suggesting the name of a famous Khan in his placeShahrukh Khan’s hit film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ still makes the audience emotional. But during the initial shooting of this film, Shahrukh had made up his mind to leave this film. Also suggested replacing a famous bollywood Khan in his place.The film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, released in the year 2003, is a romantic comedy-drama film. This film was directed by Nikhil Advani. Shahrukh Khan, ali KHAN’ target=’_blank’ title=’saif ali khan-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW’ >saif ali khan, and Preity Zinta were seen in the lead roles in the film. The film was written by karan Johar and Yash Johar was its producer. Recently, the director of this film, Nikhil Advani, revealed in an interview that Shahrukh Khan was going to leave this film midway due to a special reason.In a recent interview, Nikhil Advani, who directed the film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, says, ‘Shahrukh Khan had shot only one scene for the film. After this, shahrukh khan called us and told us that I would not be able to do it, you guys should sign some other actor.’ shahrukh khan was very troubled by his back pain that year. He had to go to germany for surgery in a few days. In such a situation, he did not want the film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ to suffer a loss. In such a situation, shahrukh khan asked to take another actor in his place.Shahrukh Khan had also suggested the name of actor salman to Nikhil and karan johar in his place. Shahrukh had said, ‘I will talk to salman Khan. You guys make this film with Salman.’ But Nikhil and karan did not do so. When Shahrukh recovered, this film was made with him. After this, everyone knows how much the audience liked Shahrukh Khan’s character in the film. The film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ also did well at the box office.Shahrukh Khan’s film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ won the hearts of the audience with its emotional story. In the story of the film, Aman i.e. Shahrukh Khan teaches Naina i.e. Preity Zinta’s character how to live life and love. In the end, it is revealed that Aman is suffering from a disease and will die soon. The film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ was based on this storyline. ali KHAN’ target=’_blank’ title=’saif ali khan-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW’ >saif ali khan also played the role of the second hero in the film.The dialogues and songs of the film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ were very hit. A song from this film ‘It’s the Time to Disco’, ‘Mahi Ve’, and the theme song ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ were well-liked. Even today, Shahrukh’s fans and music lovers like these songs very much.

Understanding balance between technology, environmental responsibility motivated my business —Kehinde Odulana

Kehinde Odulana, the Chief Executive Officer of Celebration E-Cards Limited is an entrepreneur whose passion, dedication and willingness to take risks propelled her to chart a new course in entrepreneurship using her creativity. In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, she speaks on digital innovation and advancement, how digital technology is helping with sustainability growth in the digital age, building her business around her knowledge on digital technology, how she uses her craft to give joy, relationship between her business, green environment and pollution among other issues.
What inspired your passion for environmental sustainability and reducing pollution?

My passion for environmental sustainability and reducing pollution stemmed from a Step Up program organised by Girls Talk Corporation. In collaboration with my team, we worked on creating a business idea focused on developing a technological solution to help countries and societies achieve sustainability goals, particularly the net-zero targets outlined in the Paris Agreement for 2050. Our idea, Carbon Capture Technology, gave me valuable into the impacts of climate change on public and individual health, as well as the broader environmental challenges we face. The project involved extensive research, reading numerous articles on how climate change has severely affected our planet. We focused on best practices for capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere at its point of emission, preventing it from reaching the ground level and storing it within the natural environment.
Through this research, I gained a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between technological advancement and environmental responsibility. While carbon capture technology holds great potential, I realised that true sustainability requires a holistic approach; one that addresses energy consumption, production methods, waste management, and overall consumption habits. This understanding motivated me to create a green business with a singular mission: to provide innovative products that not only support but accelerate society’s transition to a more sustainable future.

How will you describe life as a female entrepreneur?

‘I’m absolutely delighted with the reaction to the book in Donegal’

Cathal Póirtéir is a writer and broadcaster who worked for 30 years as a radio producer in RTÉ Radio 1, where he researched and presented a wide range of programmes, many on history and folklore topics. He edited four books in English and Irish on the famine of the 1840s and ‘The Great Irish Famine – Thomas Davis Lectures’ was a non-fiction best seller for several months. Mr Porter has lectured on folklore and famine topics in Europe and north America. For several years he has worked as an independent scholar and freelance writer
Q – Where did the idea for your latest book come from? A – The idea for the book about Lord George Hill and Gaoth Dobhair goes back a few years. In the 1990s I researched the history, literature and folklore of that part of Donegal for a temporary exhibition beside the then newly built An Chúirt hotel. As Lord George Hill had built the original hotel there in 1842 and had been landlord of half of the parish for forty years from 1837, he was an important part of that story. It was when I came across May, Lou and Cass – Jane Austen’s nieces in Ireland by Sophia Hillan several years ago that I started to think about a book that would include Hill’s fascinating personal story and the changeable relationship he had with his tenants, particularly the Gweedore Sheep Wars (1865-58) and the propaganda war that went with it that led to a Parliamentary elect Committee Inquiry into Destitution (Gweedore and Cloughaneely) 1858. There was just so much detail available that I knew it would make a great book.

Q – What is your relationship with Donegal?A – My parents were from Inishowen but moved to Derry where I was brought up. From mid-teens summer meant trips to the Irish College in Rann na Feirste and regular trips to Gaoth Dobhair all through my student days. I also worked for a year in Gaoth Dobhair for a Gaeltacht newspaper in the early 1980s.
Q – What has the reaction been to your book to date? A – I’m absolutely delighted with the reaction to the book in Donegal and further afield. The people who have reviewed it have been very enthusiastic, praising how easy it is to read and the depth of research that went into it. Those endorsements are important to me coming as they do from people I respect for their own expertise and knowledge of the area and of famine history. I made great efforts to be even-handed about the two sides of the story of landlord-tenant relations and to lay out the facts and opinions in a way that would allow readers to read the full story and to make their own minds up about what sort of landlord Lord George Hill was. In his own time, he was painted by some as an example of what a good landlord could achieve and by others as a tyrant living off the sufferings of his poor tenants. That row has been going on for more than 150 years and I’m sure it will rumble on for another while.
Q – How long did it take you to write this book? A – I put three or four years into the research and writing of it. That was no great hardship as I really enjoyed researching and discovering the wonderful unpublished and published sources that were available to help me paint a detailed picture of Hill and his family, of Gaoth Dobhair before and during his time as landlord there, and of the people who visited the area during the terrible famine years. There were journalists and other travellers who wrote heart-breaking accounts about the hardships at the time and compared the situation there with neighbouring parishes. I did much of the online work during the pandemic restrictions as there are lots of contemporary publications and documents that can be found including the comments in the Gweedore Hotel visitors’ books from 1842 on. When travel and research were easier I visited Hillsborough Castle, then home of the Hill family, the Public Records Office in Belfast, the Royal Irish Academy and the National Folklore Collection in Dublin – and anywhere else I thought I might find previously uncovered evidence of what happened in Gaoth Dobhair during that period.
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Q – How important is this type of work in conserving local history? A – Local studies and local history are very important in helping us build up a fuller picture of what happened during difficult and turbulent times. No national history or general overview will give much more than a passing reference to a reasonably well-documented parish like Gaoth Dobhair in the mid-nineteenth century. We need good well-researched local studies that get down to the telling detail of events and how they affected people on the ground. Without those in-depth local studies, an accurate overview of what happened will be difficult to put together and our general understanding of the nuances of history the poorer for it.
Q – Has there been much reaction to your book from people in different countries? A – Not that I’ve seen yet but it’s probably worth saying a few reviewers have made the point that this story is not just of interest to people with Donegal connections but a well-written page-turner with a surprise on every page.
Q – Why should people in Donegal read this book?A – There is so much to learn about life in nineteenth century Donegal in this book. Sometimes It paints a distressing picture of poverty and hardship but it also shows examples of great kindness, honesty and fortitude among a population under the most severe pressure to survive. It shows how different life was for peasant farmers compared to the well-off visitors to the county during the famine era and how Lord George Hill and other landlords related to their tenants over the period. You will also read how the authorities in Dublin and the parliament in Britain viewed both tenants and landlords in Ireland. The evidence given to the Parliamentary Inquiry in 1858 is a revelation about the disputed social conditions in north-west Donegal at the time.
Q – Should it be taught in schools? A – I was very conscious when I was writing the book that I wanted it to be read by as wide a readership as possible and I made a special effort to make it as exciting and readable as I possibly could without compromising on historical accuracy.
Q – Why did you write in Irish? A – There were a couple of reasons. I’ve always done as much work as I can in Irish because of my own commitment to the language and I felt that Gaoth Dobhair as a Gaeltacht parish deserved to have its history well told in Irish. In more general terms I felt that the wider Irish speaking community would be as taken by the story as I was if it was well written and well-presented and Cló Iar-Chonnacht, the publishers, have done a wonderful job with loads of contemporary photographs and a very attractive layout.

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