-by increasing health budget
-And the Top Liberian Scientist says Hepatitis B and C on the rise
“Africa has a high burden of Hepatitis B and C infections, hence national governments need to support diagnostic capability by increasing budgetary allotment to healthcare,” a prominent Liberian medical scientist has said.
Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, CEO and Scientific Officer of Shufflex Biomed (USA and Liberia),was speaking at a two-day meeting of CelebrateLAB, the largest gathering of laboratory professionals in the ECOWAS region. The meeting was held in the Liberian capital, Monrovia from April 23-24, 2019.
Speaking on “Molecular Diagnostic of Hepatitis B and C,” Dr. Nyan said “the earlier we can diagnose or detect an infectious disease, the faster it can be treated and an epidemic adverted.”
The international award-winning Liberian scientist expressed optimism about Africa’s scientific future saying, “we have the ingenuity to take Africa’s scientific destiny into our own hands for the benefit of humanity.”
Dr. Nyan advised laboratory scientists and conference participants to concentrate on the use of amplification technology due to its sensitivity and specificity in detecting the two viruses
He called on African governments to increase laboratory capability, encourage professional training and focus on knowledge transfer.
The Nyan-Test, for which he received international science award, is a multiplex test that can be used to detect co-infection of HIV-HBV-HCV, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nyan has made a number of recommendations to improve diagnostic capability and healthcare in Africa.
He has recommended a routine blood testing for patient and mandatory testing for pregnant women for HIV, HBV and HCV.
The Liberian scientist also recommended that regional governments increase budgetary allotment to healthcare, including “Antimicrobial Resistance: Causes, Effects, and Interventions.”
Antimicrobial Resistance is the ability of Bacterial, Viruses, Parasites, Fungi to resist the effects of medications that were once used to successfully treat them.
Dr. Nyan pointed out a number Causes.
- Through genetic changes in the microbes (for example by mutations)
- Transfer of Mutation between the Microbes
- Use of substandard medications (drugs) for treatment of patuients 4. Wrongly prescribed medications given to patients
- Misuse of medications (e.g. Self-medicating)
He also spoke of the overuse of medication and the Effects.
According to him, this increases threat to global public health; threatens the effective prevention and treatment of infections; compromises success of major surgery and cancer chemotherapy.
He said it also leads to higher cost of health care for patients with resistant infections; complicates fights against multi-drug resistant TB globally, HIV, and malaria.
Dr. Nyan has therefore recommended the establishment and strong support of Public Health Laboratories in drug monitoring, reduction in the use of Antimicrobial medications; and appropriate use of Antimicrobial medications.
Through collaborative efforts amongst nations in the region, the prominent Liberian scientist said that government should ban sales of drugs outside of registered pharmaceuticals entities; restrict the dispensing of Antimicrobial medications without proper doctor’s prescription for doctors.
Dr. Nyan also recommended Public Health educational awareness of the danger of Antimicrobials resistance, something he said was needed.
The two-day meeting of CelebrateLAB in Monrovia brought together Ambassadors from Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have pledged to improve regional laboratory diagnostics.
Dr Dougbeh Chris Nyan is one of the conference ambassadors, an industry innovator and Chief Executive and Scientific Officer of Shufflex Biomed (USA and Liberia).