Covid-19 – Fed gov adopts essential global electromedical standard

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian National Mirror/Technical Committee on Electromedical Equipment.an agency of the federal government has adopted  16 international standards on essential electro-medical equipment.

The step is taken as part of efforts to respond to the global health emergency, and to challenge National Standards development bodies to boost  the availability of standards and to save lives in the face of the noval Coronavirus pandemic.

In his speech at the opening session of the virtual meeting of the committee, the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, stated that there are increasing demands globally for the production and consumption of quality, safe and dependable medical equipment and systems in their varied brands.

Local produced Ventilator

Aboloma who was represented by the Director, Standards Development, SON, Mrs. Chinyere Egwuonwu stated that the sixteen International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)/International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards as global agencies in electrotechnology standardization becomes a veritable organ in the fight against Coronavirus.

The virtual meeting he said became necessary following the outbreak of the coronavirus that has changed  workplace and entire life pattern, he commended the committee members for their sacrifice emphasising the sensitivity of the medical sector for reasons of safety, precision of equipment functionalities and value at this time.

Aboloma assured the Committee of SON’s commitment to the guarantee of standard and creation of awareness in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities.

The 16 standards when approved by the Standards Council, Aboloma said would among others, encourage and support local production of medical devices, equipment and systems; provide the necessary benchmark to adjudge imported electromedical and other medical equipment in the category; assure compliance to medical safety standards.

From left Allwell Nwankwo, Program Manager, Lighting Africa; Engr. Dr. Jafaru Mahmud, MD, NASENI; Ayodele Esan, President, Nigeria National Committee of IEC and Engr. Alewu Achema, SON

Making his brief on the sixteen IEC/ISO standards, Chairman of the National Mirror/Technical Committee, Dr. Ayodele Esan pledged the members’ commitment to ensuring the best for the Nation in the consideration of standards.

The rich knowledge and experiences of the Mirror/Technical Committee members he said would be brought to bear in the deliberations, stressing that the wide representation of stakeholders at the meeting shows how important the assignment is.

Esan stated that the adoption of the international standards would enhance local production of electro-medical equipment and provide strong basis for regulation.

He said  the international standardization would enhance local production, as such  electromedical equipment standards for critical care ventilators, Electromagnetic disturbances, usability, environmentally conscious design, medical electrical systems used in the home healthcare and support equipment for ventilatory impairment among others are considered

The meeting which has its technical  support provided by  SON featured such stakholders as Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Nigerian Society of Engineers, Manufacturers of Electromedical Equipment, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Academia and other experts from around the