The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is advising Ghanaians to purchase African print nose mask made of either cotton or calico. According to the Authority, nose masks made of such materials can help contain the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease than the other colourful nose masks being sold on the market.
In a phone interview with The Chronicle, Mr Joseph Yaw-Bernie Bernie, Head of Medical Department of the Authority, indicated that most of the colourful materials contain chemicals that are harmful to human beings, and cannot pass as a tool for fighting the pandemic.
Calico or cotton, on the other hand, are plain and do not contain such harmful chemicals, he said.
Aside of being made of calico or cotton, Mr Bernie also observed that the mask should be made of three layers of such materials, and advised people not to purchase the ones made of just a piece of cloth.
“The correct nose mask is the one that is made up of three layers of either cotton or calico. It’s not just one piece of cloth, but three pieces put together. So we are looking at something like calico or cotton materials that have no chemicals in them. So you put three of such materials together, or you can start with a calico and a stiff, and then another calico.”
Mr Bernie made the call based on concerns being raised by some Ghanaians about the standard of some African print nose masks being produced in the country since the outbreak of the COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation has recommended the nose mask as one of the most effective tool in the fight against the pandemic.
This has created a market for it and subsequent shortage.
As a result, local manufacturers in Ghana have resorted to producing the product using Ghana’s local textiles. When walking in town, almost everyone is in a bright and colorful nose mask, just to prevent themselves from contracting the deadly disease.
This has suddenly given a boost to the textile industry, as well as local manufacturers.
The move, some believe, is also helping promote the wear Ghana agenda being spearheaded by Ghana’s Trade Ministry.
However, some Ghanaians are raising concerns about the genuineness of the African print nose mask. Many have complained that the product does not contain the chemicals required to drive out viruses and bacteria, and hence, was not fit for purpose.
Mr Bernie noted that his outfit is aware of the masks that are being produced by local manufacturers, and is aware that not all of them are fit for purpose, hence the need to educate them on the right ones to look out for on the market.
However, in order to promote the wear Ghana agenda, you can still produce with the African print, but ensure that it’s not the fabric that will touch the skin. It should be the outer layer and not the inner layer, Mr Bernie observed, stressing that on no occasion should anyone purchase a nose mask made of only colorful African print.
Mr Bernie also said that his outfit had certified about 10 companies which can produce the nose mask, and have put out the information on the FDA’s website, and that people should look out for those ones and purchase them.
He said the move was to deter those who are not producing the right nose mask to be off the market or do the right thing.
“Once people are aware that this is the correct one to buy, it’s our expectation that whoever is producing the incorrect ones will not have the market, and it will deter them from producing.”
He indicated that the FDA was also training some manufacturers on how to make the standard mask, in order to make them stay in business.
He said it was not the wish of the FDA to take people out of business, hence the training. He encouraged those who are yet to join to reach out to the FDA, get trained, and get registered in order to produce on large quantities and make money.
The post Use calico or cotton made-nose masks -FDA appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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