FDB Clears Sanitary Pads, As Aids Scare Grips Women

Ghana's Food and Drugs Board (FDB) on Wednesday said research has shown that "Always Sanitary Pads" used by women are not infected with the HIV/AIDS as claimed by a story circulated on the Internet.

"Preliminary assessment has indicated that it is free of any bacterial or chemical agents," the FDB said in a statement signed by its Chief Executive, Theophilus C. Corquaye.

The story on the Internet had claimed that free samples of Always Sanitary Pads distributed to secondary school students in Maiduguri and undergraduates at University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, had tested HIV positive.

This sparked off media discussions and health concerns in Nigeria and all countries where Always Sanitary Pads are used, including Ghana.

"So far, no complaint has been received on its (pad) use in Ghana," the FDB said.

"However, the necessary precautionary measures have been taken by the post-market surveillance unit of the Board to sample the product in commerce for further testing."

The FDB said it has taken adequate measures to ensure safety of such devices.

Giving further background about the scare, the board said it has since the beginning of last month been in close contact with several institutions in Nigeria over the story.

These are the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, Procter and Gamble, agents of Always Sanitary Pads, and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.

The FDB said that it had obtained the necessary official responses, which show that laboratory analyses of suspected samples conducted in Nigeria concluded that "no agent of any viral origin was isolated."

The Statement said: "The Ghanaian public is hereby assured that under section 17 and 18 of the Food and Drugs law the product has been legally registered in Ghana under medical devices."