Who truly are the unsung heroes curtailing the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria?

The advent of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, divulged the immense work of Nigeria's Medical Laboratory Scientists and the extreme importance of their field. Quite a substantial amount of individuals know and recognize the contributions of the science in medical practices, but with the outbreak of the pandemic, it has become more sought-after.

Medical Laboratory Science is the bedrock of medical diagnosis; a science which seeks to reveal the nature and cause of an illness before further medical attention can be administered to a person. A plausible fact is, approximately 70% of medical decisions are based on the interpretations of laboratory test results which are conducted by professionals known as Medical Laboratory Scientists.

A Medical Laboratory Scientist, otherwise known as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, is a health care professional that performs complex tests on samples collected from a person in order to provide information requisite in the treatment of the individual.

Earlier, the Bureau of Labour Statistics forecasted that the employment of Medical Laboratory Scientists will rise 16% between 2014 and 2024, much faster than any other profession, because of the rising need for them. And only in 2020, a significant percentage of Medical Laboratory Scientists has been employed to battle and curb the spread of the virus.

To begin with, a paramount role they pose in containing the virus is, confirming the presence of the virus in persons, which is detected by molecular testing. Medical Laboratory Scientists are solely responsible for analyzing blood samples to either identify infected persons, confirm recovery and safety of already treated patients, or detect any other illness that might complicate the treatment of a confirmed case, making use of biomedical procedures and instruments.

This role is infact most essential in containing the spread of the virus because, expeditious identification of a case would prevent the stimulation and spread of the infection. So then, unavailability of personnels to conduct tests, or delayed testing would have a colossal impact on the state as apt diagnosis is critical for successful containment. Loss of lives, prevalent spread of the virus, amongst others are consequences of the non-observance of this role. Hence, the need for the Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Furthermore, Clinical Laboratory Scientists offer advices to the government to guide in their formulation of policies concerning the public health. Over the months, there have been mandatory policies initiated to suppress the virus: most prominent is the lockdown protocol. There was an initial lockdown on all essential activities in the country, mandatory use of face masks in public, and so forth.

Moreso, their prognosis of the disease and the results of diagnosed Covid-19 cases to a great extent, influence policies, government and it's officials formulate to curb the spread of the virus. Some Medical Laboratory Scientists went ahead to join the Covid-19 containment task force in Nigeria in a bid to maintain the general health of the public. Thus, minimalizing the spread of the virus.

In addition, a significant role they play in preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria is the development and validation of testing kits, treatment options and prognosis for cases in the state. Notably, Nigeria's Medical Laboratory Scientists developed rapid testing kits which can accurately detect the presence of coronavirus at a lower cost.

Moreover, Medical Laboratory Scientists, in an effort to prevent and contain the unfurl of the disease make headway in creating treatment options and prognosis. Several therapeutic options has been used in the treatment of Covid-19 cases which aids recovery as there is no ascertained vaccine for the disease yet.

A noteworthy question we should ask ourselves is this, 'How would Nigeria survive the pandemic without her Medical Laboratory Scientists?' Undoubtedly, they are imperative in the containing of the Covid-19 disease; they are the unseen warriors, battling the outbreak of the pandemic amidst all the hazards that comes with their profession. The heroes, meritorious of accolades for their remarkable impact in averting the number of cases today. Time and again, they have shown that capes do not necessarily prove heroism rather, up to par influence and contributions in the society does. So, Medical Laboratory Scientists put on their laboratory coats and save lives.