The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning regarding the illegal sale and distribution of an unregistered brand of condoms known as Foula.
The agency announced this on Thursday after officials from the Post-Marketing Surveillance directorate discovered these condoms, packaged in threes, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and Zango, Katsina State.
NAFDAC clarified, “The condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labelling of the product is not in the English Language.”
The agency emphasized the importance of condoms as effective barrier methods for both preventing unintended pregnancies and protecting against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
To maximize their effectiveness, it stated, “To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.”
The agency also expressed concern about the risks associated with the illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms, noting that “the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.”
It warned that poor-quality condoms could undermine efforts to promote safe practices, stating, “The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy, and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection.”
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To address this issue, NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and remove unregistered products from the market.
The agency advised importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to prevent the distribution and sale of illegally marketed products.
“All medical products/medical devices must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checke.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.” NAFDAC stated.
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” NAFDAC stated
