The National Agency For Food And Drug Administration and Control has that said Nigerian women who are using bleaching creams are likely to suffer cancer.
NAFDAC stated that this category of women abuse bleaching creams.
The agency gave this warning during the launch of the Southsouth Zonal Media Sensitisation workshop on the Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control yesterday in Port Harcourt.
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NAFDAC spoke following a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
The report stated that nearly 77 per cent of Nigerian women used skin-lightening regularly.
Also, the Director-General of the agency, Prof Moji Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr Leonard Omokpariola, said continued use of bleaching creams and other related cosmetic products could cause damage to vital body organs.
The DG added that bleaching creams usage could also provoke skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature ageing, and prolonged healing of wounds.
She said:
“Last year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, acting on the resolution of the senate, wrote to NAFDAC stressing the need to take stringent regulatory action to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.
“We immediately took some decisive steps such as sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids on trade complexes that have resulted in large seizures and destruction of violating products.
“A World Health Organisation 2018 study revealed that use of skin bleaching creams was prevalent among 77 per cent of Nigerian women which was highest in Africa compared to 59 per cent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27 per cent women in Senegal.”
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