The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an urgent alert about the illegal sale of Foula Condoms, an unregistered brand identified during a risk-based surveillance study in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and Zango, Katsina State.
NAFDAC officials highlighted the serious implications of this discovery, stating, “The condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labelling of the product is not in the English Language.”
This lack of registration raises significant concerns regarding the safety, quality, and efficacy of these condoms, which play a vital role in preventing unintended pregnancies and protecting against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The agency further cautioned, “The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for prevention.”
NAFDAC emphasized that the risk of leakage or breakage of these unregistered condoms could lead to inadequate protection, exacerbating public health issues.
To address this pressing concern, NAFDAC has instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to enhance surveillance efforts and eliminate these unsafe products from the market.
The agency urges “importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers” to remain vigilant and acquire medical products solely from licensed suppliers.
NAFDAC encourages consumers to report any suspicions about substandard products through their official channels, including the agency’s helpline and website, as part of their ongoing efforts to safeguard public health in Nigeria.