Skin Bleaching: The Manaouda ‘bafia’ dance and high instructions from above
Within one month, Cameroonians have witnessed the in and out of government actions during a time of mass condemnation. August-September 2022; the skin bleaching saga.
In early August, a French channel France24 broadcast a report on liquid and drinkable skin bleaching products produced by Cameroonian parliamentarian honorable Nourane Fotsing. Cameroonians took to their online handles “it is so sad to see that a mouthpiece of the people is instead working on killing them. This is unacceptable, skin bleaching products cannot be promoted by a parliamentarian, the Government should do something”.
Reactions prompted the minister of public health to sign several releases suspending temporarily the production and sale of these bleaching cosmetics. Mira cosmetic, CARIMO empire, and Nourishka company all responded positively, but sluggishly to the ministerial order but not in the same manner.
Honorable Nourane announced the shut down of all Nourishka shops in Cameroon but held talks with the Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie to talk about norms guiding the sector but yet, all she got was advice to carry tests in a recognized laboratory to attest Glutathione and the other products used in her body lotion and tea are not harmful to the body.
The fight almost took a political twist, when PCRN parliamentarians Hon. Ngo Issi and Cabral Libii took the sides of their party comrade irrespective of the laws guiding the cosmetic sector in Cameroon and the fight against skin bleaching. Dr. Manaouda Malachie responded
“I would like to point out that procedure for approval and marketing of a cosmetic and personal hygiene product or food supplement is well known. To date, no file of such has been received in our services”
The minister of Public Health who was still digesting the opposition point of view, got a hit on the back when a release from the prime ministry, ordered him to stop all actions undertaken to combat the ill. The release instructed that his August 12 circular imposing sanitary checks on all imported cosmetic and consumable products, be taken down and an interministerial meeting be held to better apprehend the fight.
A few days later, another circular this time from the presidency ordered Dr. Manaouda to stop all actions taken and discuss with other government officials on a way forward.
Dr. Manaouda has stopped all actions, pending an interministerial meeting.
Will “dangerous cosmetics” flood various sales points again?
How is the government planning to tackle the skin bleaching phenomenon?
Time alone shall tell for several other African countries have placed a ban on these bleaching products in their markets.
