From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), is set to launch a National Task Force Against Quackery ( NTFAQ) for better eye care delivery in the country.
The Registrar, Dr Obinna Awiaka stated this at a press conference to mark his 100 days in office,in Abuja yesterday.
Awiaka stressed that the fight against quackery in the profession would be a collective move with security agencies and other professional bodies.
According to him, the optometrists can only achieve a total eradication of quacks in the profession if they unanimously fight the menace.
He said,” We will launch the National Task Force Against Quackery ( NTFAQ) in Eye Health. We shall be collaborating with professional Associations,the Nigerian police, Federal Road Safety Corps,Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps , Standards Organization of Nigeria, Nigerian Customs Services to flush out quacks in the Optical industry.
Our digital platform will also be going live,every activity of the board will be by the click of buttons. Every practitioner will have a dash board and a wallet where they can pay in money which will be deducted automatically when due.”
Dr Awiaka, further commended the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders for the partnership and collaboration they have accorded his group in the past 100 days.
He pledged that they would continue to focus on key areas to restructure ODORBN and improve the quality of eye care services across the country.