By : Julie Ekong
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned against the continued use of bleaching creams to avoid the collapse of body organs.
This is because accumulation of toxic chemicals troubles the immune system and damages the organs.
The Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Dr Monica Eimunjeze, gave the warning at a Media Sensitisation Workshop on “Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Controls,” organised by the Agency for Health Editors, in Lagos.
Dr Eimunjeze noted that, the after effect of engaging in bleaching, include exposure to cancers, kidney failure, liver damage and skin infections due to the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the system, stressing the need for awareness and behavior change.
She noted that the rate of bleaching creams in the market is high and members of the public purchase the products without recourse to the chemical combinations.
A Lecturer at Baze University, Professor Adeniyi Abiodun, urged the Media to raise awareness about skin bleaching creams by providing members of the public with the right information to enable them make informed decisions.
Professor Abiodun was Represented by Doctor Chido Nwakanma.
A Deputy Director, DR&R, NAFDAC, Mrs Linda Halim, while presenting a paper on ” Regulatory Control of Cosmetics in Nigeria” , said bleaching is a global phenomenon, as women in Nigeria recorded the highest, at 77 per cent in a 2018 Study.
According to her, some of the bleaching creams had neither gone through the regulatory process not are on the list of licensed items available in the records of the agency.
She advised that it was better to remain natural and save oneself from the trauma of spending on health related issues because some health challenges are irreversible.
The President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Mr Hassan Zaggi, promised that health reporters would stand by the Agency in passing across the right messages in the language the people will understand.
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