NAFDAC holds sensitization training for Journalists on dangers of bleaching creams

By Abubakar Abdulkadir, Kano

In an effort to create awareness on the dangers of bleaching creams, national Agency For Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday sensitized Northwest journalists in Kano.

The workshop was Organised to equipe journalists on the dangers of bleaching creams and regulatory controls.

Director General NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the Media sensitisation workshop was organized for Association of Nigeria health journalists.

Adeyeye while flagging off the sensitisation said it was aimed at educating and challenging Nigeria health journalists to play prompt line role in the agency’s effort to eradicate the menace of bleaching creams.

“In 2022 the Secretary to the government of the Federation Mr Boss Mustapha, wrote to NAFDAC stressing the need to take stringent regulatory action against the rampant cases of some Nigerians using bleaching creams.

“We immediately took action and made a large seizure and distruction of violating products in trade fair”

According to her, bleaching creams damage vital organs in the body, skin irritation, allergy, skin burn,rashes, wrinkles and prolong healing of wounds.

“Black is beautiful,we don’t need to change our colour.

She said, in 2018 the World Health Organization revealed that use of bleeching cream is prevalent among 77 per cent of Nigerian women, which is the highest in Africa compared to 59 per cent in Togo.

“35 per cent in South Africa and 27 per cent in Senegal this scary statistics has shown that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that requires a multi faceted regulatory approach.

“NAFDAC will constantly engage the mass media, as we strive to bringbdown to the grass root levels positive impact of our regulatory activities”

On his part, NAFDAC Director of Public Affairs, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, said the workshop was to educate the mass media with the right information and campaign against use of bleaching creams in Nigeria.

“Public ignorance is not an excuse before the law. The role of mass media in promotion of public health is very important not only for cosmetics and all other NAFDAC regulatory products” Jimoh said