LMHRA Confiscates Damaged Diapers
-As Court Orders Closure of Business Center
The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) has confiscated two truckloads of damaged Pampers (diapers) from Moichewa Enterprise, a local business owned by Adama Turay, following a court-ordered closure of the company’s business premises.
The seized diapers were transported to LMHRA’s designated waste disposal site at King’s Farm in Careysburg, Montserrado County, where they are slated for safe destruction.
According to LMHRA, the action was carried out by its Inspectorate and Post-Market Surveillance Department after inspectors discovered that the diapers, which had been imported for commercial sale, were severely damaged and unfit for use. The Authority said the products posed a serious health risk to infants and young children.
Following the inspection, those responsible were apprehended and turned over to the West Point Magisterial Court for prosecution. At the conclusion of the legal proceedings, the court ordered that the condemned diapers be handed over to LMHRA for disposal in line with its national public health regulations.
Dr. Paul D. Y. Higgins, Inspector General of LMHRA, warned that the damaged diapers could cause significant health problems, including skin infections, rashes, and other complications. He continued: “The safety of our children is non-negotiable. LMHRA remains firm in its mandate to protect public health.”
He disclosed that laboratory analyses revealed the presence of harmful substances in the diapers, capable of causing skin irritation, diaper rash, dermatitis, and potential hormonal disruption. Dr. Higgins urged consumers to remain vigilant and to avoid purchasing medicines and health products from unregulated or unauthorized vendors.
LMHRA said the case originated from a tip-off received in December 2024, prompting the authority to seek and obtain a court order to close and quarantine the affected warehouse pending the outcome of judicial proceedings.
The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority is the statutory body responsible for regulating medicines and health products in Liberia, with a mandate to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy and to prevent the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines and health products on the Liberian market.