The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning against the use of bleaching creams, claiming that they are major causes of cancer, permanent skin aging, prolonged wound healing, and other health problems.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, made the announcement on Monday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, while declaring open the South-South zonal media sensitisation workshop on the dangers of bleaching creams.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the NAFDAC Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Leonard Omokpariola, said that the menace has become a national health emergency that necessitates a multifaceted regulatory approach.
Outlining the dangers of bleaching cream, she stated that a World Health Organisation (WHO) study conducted in 2018 revealed that the use of bleaching cream is common among 77 per cent of women in Nigeria.
“It is imperative for me to warn that some harmful effects of bleaching creams include, but are not limited to, cancer, damage to vital organs of the body, skin irritation and allergy, wrinkles, permanent skin aging, and prolonged wound healing,” said NAFDAC’s head.
She added: “According to a World Health Organization (WHO) 2018 study, the use of skin bleaching creams was common among 77 per cent of Nigerian women, the highest percentage in Africa when compared to 59 per cent of women in Togo, 35 per cent of women in South Africa, and 27 per cent of women in Senegal.
“These frightening statistics show that the bleaching cream menace in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that necessitates a multifaceted regulatory approach.”
The NAFDAC Director of Public Affairs, Abubakar Jimoh, remarked that over 600 Nigerian journalists have been trained on the dangers of bleaching creams.
Jimoh said: “We have decided to embark on the workshop because we have seen the dangers associated with bleaching creams. After the sensitisation, we will embark on raids and enforcement. So far, over 600 journalists have been trained across the country.”
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