Lagos – With Nigeria contributing 20 million to the
global 300 million people affected by fungal infections, scientists have urged
the Federal Government to establish
Mycology Laboratories in the country.
Making the call were researchers from the fields of
Mycology, Parasitology, Haematology, Microbiology, others, who stressed that it
would forestall fungal epidemic.
They said, it is unacceptable for a country like
Nigeria, the most populous African country not to have Mycology Laboratories.
The practitioners made this and other submissions at
the Cancer Research Centre, of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
(NIMR) at the first Annual International Conference of the Medical Mycology
Society of Nigeria (MMSN).
Commenting, Dr. Rita Oladele, a microbiologist at
the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the situation in Nigeria is
really appalling, where there is no single reference laboratory for fungal
infections, saying it is not a good one for the country and its citizens.
“The most depressing for me in Nigeria is that in
the whole country, there is no single reference laboratory, whereas in the
laboratory, a lot can be done such as training, surveillance, monitoring of
disease outbreak, and collection of data,
but all these are elusive in the absence of a reference laboratory”, she
stated.
Oladele however explained what could be responsible
for the absence of the reference laboratory in the country, saying it could be
that there is no sufficient enlightenment for those in authority on the importance
of a reference laboratory in the country. Speaking on the topic: “Challenges in
management of invasive fungal infections in developing countries”, Professor
Arunaloke Chakrabarti, the President, International Society for Human and
Animal Mycology, noted that although fungi are part of human lives, as they are
eaten as foods, as well as play major roles in drug development procedures, but
the same fungi are becoming a huge pain for humans.
Chakrabarti, further expressed concerns over the
management of the condition in developing countries, affirmed the prevalence of
fungal infections as published in the Journal Nature, to be affecting 300
million people around the world, while about 1.6 million people die from the
infections annually.
The President said; “It shows that about 300 million
people in the world suffers from this fungal infections, 1.6 million people die from fungal diseases,
which are comparable with tuberculosis and malaria. We are bothered by the disease
called tuberculosis and malaria but we are paying less attention to fungal
infections. Fungi are getting so used to our body system, though; there are
seven fungi that behave like bacteria in our body.
“In the world today, there is a big challenge, with
fungi called Candida Auris, it has spread to about 32 countries and it is very
resistant to antifungal drugs, very easily transmitted. In Africa, due to lack
of Mycology Laboratories, practitioners are not able to diagnose it.
“It is only in South Africa and Kenya that this
fungus has been diagnosed. I’m sure it is present in some African countries
too, but since more than 50 per cent of general and commercial system of
identification cannot pick this kind of fungi, then we need reference
laboratory. But, Nigeria doesn’t have a reference laboratory for Mycology. We
are saying the government, should do sometime urgently about this situation,
and also partner with pharmaceutical companies for the availability and accessibility
of antifungal drugs.”
Speaking on the consequences of fungal infections on
HIV and cancer patients, Dr. Sani Aliyu, the Chairman, National Agency for the
Control of AIDS, said due to the weak immune system of these set of people,
they are more predisposed to fungal infections than others.
Aliyu therefore called for more enlightenment on the
disease, saying fungal infections have become deadly in some countries, due to
the invasive nature of the condition.
“Fungal infections are often caused by microscopic
fungi that are common in the environment. Fungi live outdoors in soil and on
plants as well as on many indoor surfaces and on human skin.
“There are instances where people become more
predisposed to fungal infections, mostly people that are either on
immuno-suppression, for example cancer therapy on people who are on intensive
guidance. Thus, the essence of the conference is to discuss both the diagnostic
and treatment aspects, in order to ensure patients’ safety.
Some of the presenters at the first MMSM
International Conference are, Prof. Jean-Pierre Gangneux; from the Rennes
Teaching Hospital and Rennes 1 University, France; Dr. J Claire Hoving, Wellcome Trust
Intermediate Fellow in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, South Africa
and Dr. Bright Ocansey, a medical
laboratory scientist at New Hope Specialist Hospital Aflao, Ghana.
Also speaking were, Prof. Folashade Tolulope
Ogunsola, deputy vice-chancellor Development Science at the University of
Lagos; Richard Kwizera, a medical
mycologist, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda and Prof.
Ahmed Hassan Fahal, University of Khartoum.
Others are; Dr. Mark Okolo, medical microbiologist
from the University of Jos; Dr. Obianuju Ozoh, a pulmonologist at LUTH; Alex Jordan, from the Mycotic Disease branch
of the United states; Dr. Iriagbonse Iyabo Osaigbovo, medical microbiologist at
the University of Benin and Dr. Nicholas
Irurhe, radiologist from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos
The rest are,
Dr. Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo, dermatologist at the Department of
Medicine, University of Lagos; Dr. Olufunmilola Makanjuola, medical
microbiologist and parasitologist, University of Ibadan; and Dr. Sani Aliyu, medical officer at State
House Clinic, Imperial College, London.
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