SCHOOL OF MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN ( PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAM)

1.    AIM OF THE PROGRAMME.

This curriculum harmonization aims to train competent clinical laboratory service personnel to meet present and projected service needs in primary and secondary health care services in ECOWAS member States.

This is a three (3) year intensive semester-based program with a strong practical medical laboratory exposure component. At the end of the training programme, the Medical Laboratory Diploma holder should have the basic competencies in the following areas:

a.    Knowledge- At the end of each course, the graduates should have acquired basic knowledge that will enable them to work under the supervision of qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists.

b.    Skills- The graduate should be able to handle, process, and perform simple systematic analysis of routine specimens he/she receives.

c.     Attitude- The graduates should appreciate the importance of his/her role in the chain of activity within the diagnostic laboratory. He/She should know the proper reporting procedure and action for any sample received in a professional manner that ensures the spirit of teamwork and skilful communication with his/her peers and supervisory laboratory personnel.

d.    Competency and professionalism- The graduates should be fully competent in planning and managing the workload. This comprises organizing the workflow and proper utilization of space, instrumentation and resources to ensure the production of accurate and reliable results for effective diagnosis.

2.    COURSE OBJECTIVE

Students who complete this programme should be able to:

a.    Seek employment in a clinical laboratory setting with the ability to perform routine laboratory procedures in each department with accuracy and precision.

b.    Re-cognize normal and abnormal test results and take necessary action with critical values.

c.     Perform and interpret basic quality control procedures

d.    Operate and perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment.

e.    Recognize and adhere to safety policies and practices.

f.      Demonstrate sound work ethics in interactions with patients, co-workers and other personnel.

3.    ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS.

This programme is to train competent medical laboratory personnel at the middle manpower level. It entails exposing the students to basic knowledge and the practices of medical laboratory science.

This is a three-year intensive semester-based programme with a strong medical laboratory exposure component.

a.    Prospective students for this programme must possess a minimum of four (4) credits passes at senior secondary school certificate Level/GCE/NABTEB O-LEVELS in the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and at least a pass in physics at not more than two sittings.

b.    Prospective students will be selected through a competitive entrance examination where applicable.

c.     Candidates with MLA or OND in SLT certificate in addition to the requirements in subsection (a) above may be considered for admission into the 200L of the programme.

4.    REGISTRATION OF STUDENTS WITH THE REGULATORY COUNCIL.

Management of Pilar College of Health Technology will register the students within the first year of admission with the MLSCM. This is for indexing. The registration is recognized as the effective date of commencement of the course, and it also determines when the student is due for the Council Professional Examinations.

1.    Registration with the Medical Laboratory Council entails a registration/enrollment form, which must be endorsed by The Head of Department, who should be a member of the council.

2.    Payment of fees entails the presentation of screening of credentials for eligibility.

i.     Eligible students are then enrolled as Medical Laboratory Technicians with student registration numbers

ii.    Students’ enrollment letters are sent through the Head of Department.

iii.   Students who fail the screening would be advised to withdraw from the programme forthwith.

5.    TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS.

Teaching students the materials of each course should be according to the best-known educational techniques. Examples of teaching techniques should include but not limited to:

i.      Classroom lectures.

ii.      Demonstration using models and phantoms.

iii.     Tutorials.

iv.     Reports, logbooks and presentations.

v.      Computers and Audio Visual Instruments.

vi.     Health facility visits/placements

All 3threecredit hours comprise 2 hours of lecture and 3 hours of practical or hone tutorial per week of the semester.