Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
The main focus of the Department is producing the next generation of Medical Laboratory Scientists with a quadripledgial knowledge and skills in medical microbiology, chemical pathology, haematology and histo/cytology who are capable of taking up positions in any of the career paths in the profession. The four - year Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences programme currently being run lays strong emphasis on vocational training, research and community service.
Core Mandate
The Department seeks to promote and execute contemporary trends in teaching and learning in order to equip students with efficient capacity to work in health, research and academic institutions to advance the course of best laboratory practices in diagnosis, prevention, monitoring and evaluation of treatments as well as disease surveillance and patient management.
Programme Philosophy
The medical laboratory sciences programme in keeping with the philosophy of the University applies innovative educational approaches and technologies to maintain an enjoyable and empowering environment that provides the highest standards of learning and scholarship in the field of biomedical science to a diverse student population. A committed staff works in unity to impact the cognitive and psychomotor skills, as well as the professional integrity necessary to meet or exceed the entry level competencies of a medical laboratory scientist and certification to students through the following:
- Provision of theoretical and practical competence as medical laboratory scientists with knowledge of state-of-the-art scientific advances in the field.
- Stimulating enthusiasm for continued learning required in their future lives and careers through the provision of higher level problem-solving skills and research acumen
- A well-rounded, broad an education as possible within a professional programme.
- Development of curriculum that entails effective balance between academic knowledge and competencies required in the world of work.
- Preparing students to start their own private practices on completion of the programme and registration with the Allied Health Professional Council.
Relevance of the programme
Medical laboratory science is associated with the application of science and technology in the effective delivery of healthcare. Without an effective laboratory service, diagnosis, monitoring and care are often compromised leading to expensive drug treatments, misdiagnoses and inaccurate information about public health situations. The role of the medical laboratory scientist is crucial in measuring the effectiveness of interventions and to conduct accurate disease surveillance to impact national health policies. They are also a very critical group in terms of research and teaching in the health training institutions.
Programme Aim and Main Objective
The main aim of the programme is to produce a competent and professional Medical Laboratory Scientist who will be a leader to guide education, develop technical expertise as well as teaching and administrative competence, promote quality patient care, advocate for the profession, engage in research and scholarly activities, communicate results and manage resources under minimum supervision with high efficiency, inspire service and must be able to adapt to rapid changes in the field while maintaining an optimal level of performance.
Job Opportunities
There is great potential for employment now and this is likely to be better still with expansion in medical care provision and in laboratory services, and as new technologies develop and become available.
Primary employment opportunities for Medical laboratory professionals are:
- Hospital clinical labs
- Commercial or reference labs
- Public Health labs
Others are:
- Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries
- Biotechnology Companies
- Forensic and Law Enforcement Laboratories
- Veterinary Clinics
- Research and Teaching Institutions
- Transplant and Blood Donor Centers
- Fertility Clinics
- Cosmetic and Food Industry
A Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences is an Excellent Starting Point for Career Advancement in:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Public Health
- Biomedical Technology
- Health Care Management and Administration
- Medical Informatics
- Basic Science and Cancer Research
- Sales, Marketing, Product Development
- Law and Public Advocacy
- Education (Academia)
Opportunities for Further Training
The University of Health and Allied Sciences will run graduate programmes hopefully by 2019 leading to MSc, MPhil and PhD in Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry, Pathology and Haematology respectively.
Contact the Department on
Telephone: +233 362194587 or +233 555022502