In an effort to fight colourism the minister of health Manaouda Malachie on August 10 banned five bleaching products in Cameroon. Raiding the market to throw out other bleaching products from the shelves of business owners.
Skin bleaching seems to be stemming from colourism. Colourism is a deep-rooted phenomenon amongst people of colour for over years now. Colourism is prejudice or discrimination especially within a racial or ethnic group. It favours people with lighter skin over those with darker skin. In Cameroon, stereotypes such as fair girls are prettier and the likely hood to marry is higher than dark girls. Certain roles in the corporate world is reserve for people who look the part and can dress the part.
The minister on his official Twitter account posted that “skin bleaching has adverse effects on health because it is at the origin of diseases such as acne, stretch marks, skin cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and even infertility”. TOGETHER LET’S SAY NO TO DJANSANG!”
One of the five products banned was the Nourishka bleaching drink called Glutathione produced and marketed by Nourane Moluh Hassana Foster. She is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and politician. In 2020, Foster was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the Cameroon Voice party for National Reconciliation CPRN. She is also the founder of Nourishka brand and manages Nourishka hair, Cosmetics and Hotel.
The prime minister against the production of this product stated that scientific data does not support the marketing claims about Glutathione-based products, nor the guarantee its safe use. He strongly advises against its use and call for the reaction of the NCPB and the SCD.
He further stated that he would like to point out that the procedure for approval and marketing of a cosmetic and personal hygiene product or a food supplement is well known. To date, no file of such structure has been received in our services for the distribution and consumption of Glutathione.
Nourane Foster later submitted lab results of the product being approved and safe for human consumption but the question stands, why is there a need for people to change their complexion?
Check out the ministers Twitter page for his messages to fight colourism (minister of health).
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