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| L-R Prof Ahmed Hassan Fahal, Dr J. Claire Hoving, Prof Akanmu Alani Sulaimon, Prof. Arunaloke Chakrabarti, Richard Kwizera, Prof Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola, and Alex Jordan in a group photograph during the conference at Nigeria Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos, weekend. |
Chioma Umeha
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 a 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.
