Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said most Ghanaians, especially the youth, who engage in skin lightening otherwise known as bleaching, do so to attract the opposite sex without considering health hazards that come with the practice which the authority says is on the increase.
Speaking at a media briefing in Bolgatanga, Head of Cosmetics and Household Chemicals at FDA, Emmanuel Nkrumah, said: “In recent times, it is as though people have been compelled to look fair. It is common to come across people lightening their skin, and they do this with the sole intention to attracting people’s attention. They believe that, people, especially, the opposite sex want to be with fair people. This is not true, it is only a psychological issue and we must all get involved to discourage people from thinking this way.”
He further revealed another worrying development which he said some young men now take in pills to make their lips red for reasons best known to them.
Touching on food supplements, Mr. Nkrumah said some unscrupulous individuals now smuggle into the country, unapproved dosages of some drugs and food supplements. These drugs and food supplements, he said can also harm users.
Citing 1500 miligram of Glutathione which has been certified by FDA as a food supplement, he said some persons have smuggled in a 2 million miligram version of it and selling to people to use to lighten their skin. This he said is against the law.
Mr. Nkrumah warned that if the trend is not checked, it could soon put pressure on health facilities and national budget as its adverse effects could be exposal of users to skin infections and possible cancerous conditions.
As part of its public education to curb the menace, and also to ensure cosmetic products and food supplements are not abused, or sole without the certification of FDA, the authority is embarking on a nationwide campaign across all regions of Ghana.
Head of Communication and Publications with the FDA, James Lartey, reminded the media and general public that it is still an offense punishable by law to advertise unapproved products on a media platform and advised media houses to ensure they do not violate the law.
Upper East Regional Director of FDA, Zackaria Braimah, was worried that some local radio stations in the region still advertise products especially herbal medicines without inquiring from from his outfit whether those products are certified or not. He cautioned that the period of leniency is over as he indicated his readiness to clamp down on such radio stations.
Source:A1Radioonline.com|101.1FM|Ghana
