By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health has described the report that fake medicated eyeglasses are being sold in the state’s secretariat clinic as false and misleading saying, it is being peddled by mischief makers to tarnish the image of the ministry.
A senior staff of the ministry, who spoke under condition of anonymity said, the state Secretariat clinic does not dispense fake medicated glasses to patients.
He condemned the report that the permanent secretary, Dr. Patrick Eshiet, has relationship with nurses in the clinic, which allows for lackadaisical services.
According to him, “a seven-man committee has been set up to investigate the alleged sales of medicated eyeglasses to patients without prescription by the Optometrist/Opthalmologist in the Clinic.
“The committee is to find out, whether the sales of fake glasses without diagnosis by doctors actually took place in the clinic as reported in the media”.
The Committee, headed by the Director of Medical Services with other members drawn from departments in the Ministry has been given three weeks to submit its report, he stressed, adding that “the Permanent Secretary is not such a person that could allow such malpractice to thrive under his watch.
“We know him very well. He has put many things in place to ensure that things work in the clinic including qualified Doctors and Nurses.
“Besides, he is a man that has integrity, and is well respected within and outside this Ministry. Whoever blackmails him has hurt an innocent man. The Ministry is big, and things may happen without his knowledge as his work scope and schedule is enormous.
“There could be some laxity in the ministry unknown to him but, once he spots them, he would clean such up as a technocrat.
However, since the report of unwholesome practice that swept through the media space on Monday, our Correspondent learned that normalcy has returned as Nurses were seen wearing uniforms, against the old practice of wearing mufti to work, while the POS machine and banner that were earlier visible have been dismantled.
