NEBBI DIOCESE BELIEVERS RALLIED AGAINST SKIN BLEACHING

Ven. Alfred Ogenmungu, The Archdeacon of Ukuru Archdeaconry under Nebbi Diocese church of Uganda.

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

Archdeacon in Nebbi Diocese Church of Uganda Ven. Alfred Ogenmungu, has urged believers to desist from whitening their skin, but rather purify their hearts and live a Godly life.

Ven Ogenmungu, with great conviction and compassion told hundreds of mourners that, “Beauty fades with age, so if you are more concerned with your outer appearance, you will be unhappy when the wrinkles come in.”

He made the appeal recently at Mvuranyi Primary School playground, in Alangi Sub-county, Zombo District, during the burial of the late Nassan Thomwa, a prominent member of Mvuranyi Church of Uganda, Mvuranyi Parish.

Skin whitening is the use of cosmetic products or services to reduce the amount of melanin, or pigment, in the skin to make it appear lighter.

Apparently, the Practice that has become rampant more especially amongst females, is no exception to prominent church believers.

From the proverbial bible teaching about time for everything taken from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Ven Ogenmungu said  ” for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die”

He decried the high rate at which older persons wants to behave like young ones, failing to draw a thick line between values of adulthood.

“You find the older persons don’t want grey hair anymore, older persons are fixing themselves in wears for children, what is happening believers? Let’s allow nature take its charge,” he said.
A resident of Paidha town council only identified as Esperance, said that, “I started bleaching in 2017, I was convinced by my peers because we were four renting a single room, sometimes I would ran out of my cosmetics and I would be left with no option but use their bleaching cream.”

Jampiere Okello, a resident of Paidha town council, said “I started using the cream when I went to DR Congo where I stayed for more than five years, in DR Congo, the practice is widespread and you can easily get used to it”

Skin lightening products has created a big industry and predominantly targets women of color in every region of the world, with the Asia-Pacific region being the most lucrative.

A businessman and  dealer in the cosmetics along Arua Road, Paidha town council, said ” we get a lot of money from people more especially women between the age of  20-40 years, but nowadays, some men are also joining women, that’s why even in this town, many men are bleaching ”

According to some religious leaders in the area, it’s vital to teach people with message about God’s perspective on beauty, picking some key bible verses about beauty.

“Community throw  mixed messages about beauty and appearance” A religious leader from Paidha who wanted not to be named said, adding,  “It is so important to teach them God’s perspective on beauty by reading Bible verses about beauty”

The 2011 study published by the World Health Organisation projected that 40% of African women bleach their skin, with Nigeria taking a staggering 77 percent, Togo 59 percent, 35 percent in South Africa, 27% in Senegal and 25% in Mali use skin-lightening products amongst other nations.

SIDE EFFECTS

According to health experts,” it’s detrimental for expectant mothers to take bleaching tablets”

Awacango, a  resident of Zingili Ward, Paidha town,  extensively used the bleaching cosmetics for nearly seven years before abandoning it in 2021,  upon seeking medical help from a Doctor in town. She recounted the challenges she underwent, as a result of long time usage of the bleaching cream cosmetics.

“I would apply it twice-a-day, after some times, my skin was not only fairer, my vessels became visible, and I developed stubborn acne, I stopped using the cream after a doctor told me that all were side effects” Awacango noted

According to the World health organization ( WHO),  exposure to mercurial skin lightening agents can lead to severe detrimental health effects, because some of  the products contain inorganic mercury as their active ingredient at varying concentrations that exceed acceptable levels.

The World health body recommends that some of the dangerous products should be eliminated by working with health and environmental ministries and raising public awareness about the dangers to health.

To stop the manufacture,  the WHO recommends limited import and export of skin lightening products in line with the Minamata Convention, regulatory actions by governments are needed – including training of customs agents – as well as major media and advocacy campaigns.

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