Harnessing potentials of medical biotechnology in delivery of quality health service in Nigeria

Biotechnology is the manipulation and application of the whole or a part of a living biological system such as microorganisms, plants and animals for the production of goods and services for the benefits of mankind and society at large. Various aspect of biotechnology has been identified based on their applications in medicine, industry and agriculture. Medical biotechnology involves medical application of biotechnology for disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. One of the major factors to be considered in delivery of quality health services in developing countries like Nigeria is the rapid diagnosis of diseases and infections. This will in turn help in subsequent rapid treatment and prevention. Molecular diagnostic techniques are vital tools required for detection of diseases and infections. Harnessing inherent potentials of medical biotechnology will help in early detection of diseases such as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), communicable and infectious diseases in developing countries. It will also help in reducing the work load of diagnostic laboratories. This paper therefore highlights significance of harnessing medical biotechnology in enhancing delivery of quality health service in Nigeria. Keywords: Health care system, molecular diagnosis, biotechnology education, biotechnology awareness