The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed concern about the country’s use of bleaching creams, which it claims is increasing the number of cancer cases.
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Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stated at the North-Central Zonal Media Sensitization Workshop on the Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control held in Jos, Plateau State, that a World Health Organization (WHO) study revealed that 77% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching creams, the highest in Africa, compared to 59 percent in Togo, 35% in South Africa, and 27% in Senegal.
The DG, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, stated that the frightening statistic demonstrated that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that necessitates a multifaceted regulatory approach.
Adeyeye stated,
“Last year, acting on Senate resolutions, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, wrote to NAFDAC emphasising the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.”
“We immediately took decisive steps, such as public sensitization through various media outlets, enforcement through intelligence, and raids in trade fair complexes, resulting in large seizures and destruction of violative products…
This sensitization workshop is a training-of-trainers programme, with the hope that participants will take on the role of champions at the forefront of the campaign against the use of bleaching creams… It is imperative that I warn you that some of the harmful effects of bleaching creams include cancer, organ damage, skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature skin ageing, and delayed wound healing.
“According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, 77 percent of Nigerian women used skin bleaching creams, which was the highest in Africa, compared to 59 percent in Togo, 35% in South Africa, and 27% in Senegal.”
This frightening statistic demonstrates that the bleaching cream menace in Nigeria has evolved into a national health emergency requiring a multifaceted regulatory approach…”
