New U.S.-Supported Health Products Support Ghanaian Women and Children

Accra, GHANA -The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Total Family Health Organisation (TFHO), a Ghanaian social marketing organization, have launched two new healthcare products to support adolescents, women, and children in Ghana. The products include Secure Sanitary Pads and ORAplus, an oral rehydration solution containing salts, sugar, and zinc, for children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration.

As part of USAID’s commitment to empowering people to make healthy life decisions, the products will provide affordable solutions for basic health and hygiene needs. The USAID/Ghana Health Office Director, Dr. Zohra Balsara, joined representatives from the Ghana Health Service at the launch event. “The private sector has a huge role to play in supporting Ghanaians’ health. We are excited to see these high-quality, low-cost items enter the market and be available to Ghanaians.” 

In Ghana, diarrheal illness is the fourth primary cause of death among young children. ORAplus is a co-package of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc, that provides optimum treatment for children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. This is the first time in Ghana that these two products are packaged together, in line with global health evidence-based best practices. The product is locally manufactured for TFHO by Phyto-Riker Pharmaceutical Ltd.

Affordable menstrual hygiene supplies are critical for adolescent girls’ and women’s health and empowerment. Secure Sanitary Pad is a high-quality, comfortable, absorbent, locally manufactured menstrual pad targeted at adolescent girls and young women.  The Secure pads will provide girls in schools an affordable menstrual hygiene solution to ensure girls do not miss days in school and working women do not miss days of work.
These products build on TFHO’s existing socially marketed suite of products in Ghana, including the Sato Pan, the Secure contraceptive pill, and the highly popular Ebony condoms. Since October 2022, over 7.5 million Ebony condoms have been sold and distributed to date. TFHO’s partnerships have expanded to
target specific populations in need, including a partnership to bring family planning services to fishing communities, among whom teenage pregnancies are especially high, in the Western, Central, Greater Accra, and Volta regions.

TFHO is one of the first Ghanaian organisations to receive direct funding from the United States Government. TFHO’s first USAID-supported activity began in 2020, with a focus on social marketing and improving health services. TFHO is continuing its partnership with USAID under a new five-year project, the USAID
Social Marketing and Private Sector Activity, which began in October 2023 and focuses on building private sector partnerships to advance family planning, maternal and child health.

The United States is Ghana’s largest bilateral development donor.  In 2023, USAID’s bilateral development assistance totaling over $140 million was dedicated to supporting health, economic growth, agriculture, education, governance, and security in Ghana.  

About USAID
USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable
systems, and inclusive development.