By Doris Obinna
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s government in strengthening the healthcare sector by prioritising medical sciences in educational policies.
Alausa, who was former Minister of State for Health, over the weekend at the grand opening and name unveiling of Cerba Lancet Nigeria’s reference laboratory in Surulere, Lagos, disclosed that he plans on fostering collaboration between education and healthcare.
Formerly known as Clina Lancet Laboratories, the facility has adopted the Cerba Lancet Africa branding as part of a global strategy to align with the Group’s vision.
Alausa, who was the special guest of honour stated: “My tenure as Minister of State for Health and now in my role leading the Federal Ministry of Education, I remain steadfast in my commitment to strengthening the healthcare sector by prioritizing medical sciences in our educational policies.
“By fostering collaboration between education and healthcare, we aim to cultivate a skilled workforce ready to support innovative institutions like Cerba Lancet Nigeria and others.”
Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Cerba Lancet Nigeria, Dr. Olayemi Dawodu , said this new facility is equipped with the latest in diagnostic technology, offering services that include comprehensive health screenings, early disease detection, and specialized testing, all designed to meet the specific health needs of Nigerians.
“From chronic disease screenings to advanced infectious disease diagnostics, Cerba Lancet Nigeria aims to bridge the gap in accessible, quality healthcare and support a healthier future for Nigeria.”
Reiterating further, Dawodu, said the expectation is to get the best diagnosis with cutting edge technology and tests that were being done outside the country before will now be done in this centre.
“We have technology here to help dictate cancer cases because we have a machine that will help us determine the type of cancer people have.
“For example, you know that breast cancer is not only one type because when two women have cancer, it could be different viruses and what this translates to; is that the management of breast cancer in lady A is different from that of lady B. So, we now have a machine that is fully automated that can be used to differentiate these variance, which also means that we now provide more personalized testing for patients.”
“Our focus on preventive health is especially timely in Nigeria, where healthcare systems are often strained by the demands of treating advanced stages of illness. Its expanded presence in Nigeria reflects the group’s vision of establishing preventive healthcare on a global scale.
“However, healthcare in Nigeria can be improved by a multi disciplinary approach. It should not be for the ministry of health or health care system but all of us must contribute,” she added.
On his part, Group CEO, Cerba Lancet Africa, Matthieu Gogue, said, with the facility, a direct investment in Nigeria’s health sector is made while resources are provided that will elevate the quality of diagnostics available.
“We are here to solve their medical problems and reduce the incidence of travelling abroad on medical tourism which is very capital intensive. Our facilities are most modern and technologically driven and of state-of-the-art and our services are the same as what you can get anywhere in the world.
“Our goal is to empower Nigerians to make proactive health choices by delivering world-class diagnostic services that emphasise early detection,” he added.
Also, in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, while commending the company for investing in Nigeria’s healthcare and for expanding its services from pathology to preventive care, reiterated that the state government was dedicated to tackling the brain drain through the establishment of a Medical University in the state.
