Health News of Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Source: GNA

Importers of fake Chinese condoms exposed

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Tuesday confirmed that the poor quality and substandard Be Safe condoms that has hit the Ghanaian market was manufactured by a Chinese company called Henan Xibei Latex Company Limited.

The company has as its manufacturing address No. 300 Zuocheng Industrial Zone, Yanjin, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, and China.

The poor quality Be Safe condoms were supplied by Harleys Limited, an Indian company in Kenya through their local agent; Global Unilink limited whose Chief Executive Officer is one Mr Kofi Yalley.

The Be Safe condoms tested at the FDA’s Medical Devices Laboratories failed to meet quality standards and were found to have holes and burst easily under pressure and could easily break during sex.

The FDA said users were at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS and unwanted pregnancies.

The condoms were also of smaller-than-normal size and not adequately lubricated.

The FDA has seized about 110,000,000 pieces of the condoms whilst investigations continue.

Last Monday, a statement issued by the FDA in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency alerted the public that it had seized a large consignment of the condoms.

It said the packaging of the product has no manufacturer’s name and address but only an inscription - Manufactured in P.R.C.

“The FDA assures the public of continued vigilance in its enforcement activity to promote public health and safety.

It appealed to the public to provide information on individuals suspected of endangering public health and safety through any of the following contacts: 0244337235, 0208204968, 0244571563 or 0246809509”.