Nigerian Opthalmic Nurses Association Debunk Frame, Lens Racketeering Claim

Nurses under the aegis of the Nigeria Opthalmic Nurses Association ( NONA) Akwa Ibom State  have described the allegations that nurses in the Akwa Ibom State Government Eye Clinic sell glasses frames and lenses without the prescription of an Optometrist to patients as cheap  lies and a wicked plot to blackmail hardworking nurses committed to saving lives.

Refuting claims in "The Will" newspaper of December 5th, 2021 in which trained and professional nurses were referred to as quacks and fraudsters, the nurses noted that the content of the report were derogatory, malicious and libelous, because the story did not in anyway mention the name of any nurse involved in the racketeering, neither did it mention the name of a patient who  bought the frames or lens.

These gaps in the highly opinionated story,  the nurses maintained betrayed the story as fake news and the antics  of people who always do not seek the peace and progress of Akwa Ibom state; and therefore should be trashed into the dustbin of sensational and retrogressive journalism.

They mentioned that the writer of the fabricated story  would have imagined that the allegations were made in reference to a confused market place with unconscionable people without respect for ethics , but did not realize in his deep ignorance that the health  sector is organized and manned by highly professional people.

The statement adds that "We want to reiterate that nurses in the state eye clinic are not quacks and do not involve in selling frames and defrauding the public. They are qualified nurses employed by the state government. They are nurse specialists who specialize in the treatment and care of the eyes. "

Explaining further that they are called Opthalmic nurses, the association identified their responsibilities to include checking the patient, eye examination and visual equity.

Other responsibilities of the Opthalmic nurse, the association noted include refraction of patients if it is required,  and drug administration among others

The nurses maintained that the eye hospital is professionally managed and the team understand their roles and have been working in a synergy without friction.

NONA added  that  it is impossible for any nurse to leave their assigned roles and engage in other tasks not assigned to them

In this direction, the nurses have called on the public to disregard and discountenance the fabricated story  of The Will newspaper of 5th December, 2021_ as it contains no iota of truth because no nurse in the eye hospital engages in frames and lens.