Nigeria leads the world in skin bleaching. (Amazing)

 

After becoming the continent’s biggest economy, Omo Naija has added another accolade to its name. No shame in Nigeria’s skin bleaching game…abi?!

via This Day
A dermatologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nike Omotoyosi, has said Nigeria has the highest number of people who indulge in skin bleaching.
Delivering a lecture entitled, “The Harmful Effects of Skin Bleaching,” yesterday in Ilorin at a Lenten season programme, organised by the wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, the dermatologist stated that the rate of skin cancer and other kidney diseases was on the rise due to bleaching.
“Nigeria is the foremost country where people bleach their skin in the whole world due to the negative effects of advertisements on billboards where white skinned women are portrayed as beautiful.
“There is the misconception that only fair people are beautiful. As such, those with dark skin would want to attract the opposite sex by removing the dark spot using different chemicals to bleach,” a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted her as saying.
Omotoyosi, who noted that some were lured into bleaching due to societal pressure, added that the trend was now popular with men. Bleaching, according to her, reduces melanin, a pigment of the skin. According to her, melanin protects the skin from the harsh rays of the sun while acting as a protective agent against cancer and other dangerous skin diseases.
She said active bleaching agents and chemicals found in most Nigerian markets were hydroquinone, mercury and steroids.
“Many countries, including Nigeria, have banned the use of these active ingredients in cosmetics but bleaching still persists in this country,” Omotoyosi said.
She said other side effects of bleaching included burns, dark nails, permanent luekodermia, easy bruising, stretch marks, recurrent skin infections, dermatitis, pimples breakout and onchronosis.
“Mercury poisoning on its own causes severe nerve problems, movement disorders, hearing impairment, kidney damage and psychiatric disorders,” the dermatologist added.
Omotoyosi, however, recommended sensitization of the public on the dangers of bleaching while also advocating the use of moisturizers and sunscreen cream.
She further called on government to check advertisement copies , which portray the black race in negative light, saying “Black is beautiful.” .

University Don cautions pregnant women against abuse of caesarian sections

 

The Dean of Public Health of the University of Ghana, Professor  Richard Adanu, has warned pregnant women against the abuse of caesarian section as a more convenient means of delivery.
Some women, who want to avoid pain-in-labour, often opt for the caesarian section.
In Ghana, 7 percent of women undergo caesarian section with the Greater Accra region recording the highest of 16%.
But Professor Richard Adanu, who is also the country Director of the Evidence for Action Project, told Joy News, caesarian section has its negative consequences and should be used only when necessary.
Speaking after the launch of maternal and newborn health glossary designed for journalists by the 'Mama Ye Advocacy Coalition', the Dean of Public Health at the University of Ghana further advised that painkillers should be used to relieve pain-in-labour instead of going through a caesarian section.
According to him, caesarian sections should only be adopted in instances where the life of the unborn baby or the mother needs to be saved.