Public cautioned against buying unapproved face masks

 
 
Communications Director for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), James Lartey, says face masks fall under medical devices hence the need for them to be vetted and approved by the Authority.
This statement comes after critics of the FDA argued that the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and not the FDA had the mandate to determine whether or not some face masks are appropriate for use or otherwise.
The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), after the lifting of the lockdown, directed the mandatory wearing of face masks by the general public in the capital.
REGSEC among other things ordered the placement of “no mask, no entry” notices at vantage points in Accra.
This development forms part of REGSEC’s efforts to ensure compliance with the President’s directive on social distancing and wearing of face masks in Accra.
After this directive by REGSEC, The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) warned of potential danger as inferior and unapproved nose masks flooded Accra markets.
The streets of Accra have since been flooded with all sorts of nose masks, both foreign and locally-made.
Speaking to Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Communications Director for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), James Lartey said some of the products fall short of the-layer specifications and expose users to risk hence the caution.
According to him, most of the face masks on the streets are made from polyester, instead of the approved propylene or 100 per cent cotton with calico-stiff or all calico-calico-calico.
James Lartey noted that most of the masks on the streets do not meet the FDA’s specification of ten inches cheek-to-chin length, nor meet the three-layer thickness of not less than 0.759 millimetres.
He cautioned the general public to lookout for FDA approved face masks before purchasing to be on the safer side.
 
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa