From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Hospital of the Catholic Arcdiocese of Jos Plateau State has became the first faith-based organization to have secured the Global Laboratory Accreditation in Nigeria.
The faith base hospital is the third hospital on the Plateau to have received the Global Laboratory Certification in the health industry.
The hospital which commenced activities in 1943 in the tin city of Jos had its formal presentation of International Standard Organization (ISO) 15189 (2012), through the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), held Thursday at the Conference Hall of the School of Midwifery OLA Hospital in Jos the Plateau State Capital.
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos Arcdiocese His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Audu, said the hospital has a long standing history of collaboration with organizations both within and outside Nigeria which enhanced the actualization of the Laboratory Certification.
The Archbishop, represented by Rev. Father Daniel Gyang said test result from OLA hospital would now enjoy international acceptance, adding that it is a landmark achievement in the annals of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos.
The Chief Administrator OLA Hospital, Rev. Sister Jovita Egwu said God has been faithful to the hospital which is central to healthcare provision in the State devoid of religion, tribe or social status.
“As we all know, the role of Laboratory service delivery and Laboratory accreditation towards patients care is one of paramount importance. Crucial to effective health services are laboratory results that are accurate, reliable and timely.
“OLA hospital laboratory is one of the laboratories that implement quality management system (QMS) and this has been with the support of APIN Public health initiative through mentorship, training and funding among others.We are now the only Faith based accredited laboratory in Nigeria and one of the accredited Laboratories in the world”, she happily stated.
The representative of APIN
Eke Ofuche reveals that the hospital has gone through a thorough comprehensive processes before attaining such fit of the status of global accreditation, “It is not an achievement to attend accreditation but the ability to sustain it is what matters,” he charged management of the hospital.
Dr.Elujoba Michael Laboratory Director of OLA hospital shed more light on the rationale behind laboratory certification because “investigation in the body will be carry out using blood, urine, stooge and other body tissue to dictate problem in the body.
“So, the certificate is very important because it is international standard organization (ISO), what it means is that laboratory has now accredited internationally.
“Therefore, it has assessed and seen that the quality of processes and procedures been carry out at Our Lady of Apostles Hospital Jos is comparable to the best any where in the world.
“That is to say that, if you get a result from OLA laboratory hospital Jos is comparable or equivalent to what you would obtained if this similar test is conducted in any hospital be it Africa, Europe or any part of the world,” he posited.
Stakeholders in the heath industry from the Jos University Teaching Hospital(JUTH), Plateau State Ministry of Health, the Association of Medical Laboratory of Nigeria, University of Jos as well as other dignitaries described the new development as a mark of excellence by the Management of OLA Hospital and charged them to keep the blazing fire burning.