NIHSS students celebrate biomedical laboratory science day |19 April 2022
The Ministry of Health conducted an outreach programme last Thursday in three locations – Victoria House, STC Hypermarket and Camion Hall ‒ with third year students in Biomedical at the National Institute for Health and Social Services.
This coincided with the Biomedical Laboratory Science day established by the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) on April 15, 1996 at its world congress in Oslo, Norway to promote and celebrate the key role of biomedical laboratory personnel in diagnostic and preventive health care systems.
The students ‒ Aisha Bacco, Andrea Freminot, Sarah Labiche, Stephie Roucou, Brandon Dodin, Cheryl Mondon, Annissa Camille, Vince Hallock, Sai Chetty, Tina Clothilde, Samira Low-Thion, Larry Marimba, Nicholeta Marguerite, Adarsha Anacoura and Lya Marie ‒ were all excited to share with the public what they are learning about. Out of this current cohort, there are three boys and 13 girls.
“We are here to interact with the public and share the proper ways how to collect urine and poo for further laboratory tests. We also share with the public the different steps once blood / urine is collected,” shared Adarsha and Nicholeta.
They also distributed leaflets and explained to the public the importance of a laboratory and the different components in a laboratory.
The students also explained how to enrol on these courses after completing your IGCSEs or through the access programme and noted that after completing their studies they can join either the private or public sector.
The purpose of Biomedical Laboratory Science day is to increase awareness of the role biomedical laboratory scientists play in providing health care. They play a key role in diagnosis, quality development and assurance, treatment, research and development in modern medical sciences.
The theme for the day is selected by the IFBLS board of directors and is related to health issues and supports the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO) sustainable development goals (SDGs). The theme is valid for two years.
This year’s theme is ‘Testing times ‒ biomedical laboratory scientists' role in the Covid-19 pandemic’.
Biomedical laboratory scientists are one of the largest groups of health-care professionals and have a vital role in medicine and public health. The best person to promote our profession is a confident biomedical laboratory scientist. We understand our role in healthcare and are the best to carry our message.
The accompanying photos taken by Louis Toussaint show the NIHSS students sharing with the public what they are learning about.
Vidya Gappy
