Prof. Professor Anthony Chijioke Ezimah, in his 7th Inaugural Lecture on the topic “The Kingpins in Action and in Distress” has stated that Nigeria must urgently strengthen medical laboratory services to tackle the rising burden of blood related diseases.
The Professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science said that red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are indispensable kingpins that sustain human life, emphasizing that they play key roles of transport, regulation and protection, adding that early detection of changes in their numbers becomes imperative and lack of these kingpins in a person will mean death.
He highlighted that anaemia remains a major public health concern among children, adolescents, pregnant women and patients with chronic illnesses, and also bemoaned the continued burden of sickle cell disorder and G6PD deficiency in local communities.
Prof. Ezimah warned that low counts of platelets increases the risk of bleeding and complicate the management of kidney diseases. He also pointed out the effects of certain drugs on platelet function, noted the rising cases of leukaemia and immune disorders, including complications seen in patients living with HIV and sepsis. He stressed that without proper diagnosis, many cases go undetected, until they become severe.
Prof Ezimah lamented the challenges facing Nigeria’s health system which he said is under pressure from malnutrition, environmental hazards including toxic waste and emerging infectious diseases. He added that shortages of reagents, poor facilities and delays in laboratory supplies continue to undermine diagnosis and treatment.
He recommended adequate funding and equipping of medical laboratory departments in universities and hospitals, continuous training and foreign exposure for laboratory scientists and lecturers, establishment of research funds to support staff and student investigations and strict quality control systems to prevent errors and improve reporting standards.
Concluding, Prof. Ezimah stated that a healthy blood system is central to quality of life and national development. “Protecting the kingpins in our blood through research, good nutrition and functional laboratories will reduce the burden of disease and improve health outcomes for Nigerians,” he said.
Earlier while declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu pledged to strengthen the culture of inaugural lectures in the university, saying it is the key to showcasing research findings and contributions to the development of humanity.
Describing the event as “the formal intellectual coronation of a Professor,” the Vice Chancellor said inaugural lectures serve critical purposes in the university system. According to him, the lectures provide a platform for professors to disseminate research findings, demonstrate how university scholarship addresses societal problems, and inspire younger academics and students.
“Inaugural lectures are keys to showcasing research and holding the university accountable to the public,” he noted, adding that his administration is committed to creating an enabling environment that will encourage more professors to deliver their lectures and contribute to the university’s academic visibility.
