Students Seek Support For 'Jumpstart Stop Bleaching Campaign'

Twelve tertiary education students have appealed for support to help them to prosecute their mission of launching a campaign against dangers of using skin bleaching products which expose users to several health hazards and eventual death.

The students who are working through a Non-Governmental Organisation called: 'Stop Skin Bleaching Foundation' (SSBF), are seeking public support, either in cash or kind, to start their crusade in the Upper West Region where skin bleaching was reported common among young ladies.

They are from Jirapa Nursing College, Central University College, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Journalism, University for Development Studies, Central University and Global Media School.

Ms Ganaa Cornelia, Founder and Chairperson of SSBF who made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on behalf her colleagues said: 'Stop Skin Foundation seeks your support in kind or in cash to enable us carry out our objective as an organisation in the region to reduce skin bleaching and if possibly stop skin bleaching in our region.'

She said black skin colour was beautiful and admirable and the campaign would therefore focus on promoting the use of Shea Butter which was known for its large healing and moisturizing fractions for the skin.

Health officials were quoted as saying: 'regular use of this natural cream Shea Butter can treat many skin problems, including blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, frost bite, and other skin conditions.'

Activities of the campaign would include; community durbars; sensitisation campaign to all senior high schools in Upper West, media discussions and campaign as well as sensitisation on the importance and use of Shea butter.

Ms Ganaa explained that what actually informed their decision to carry out those activities were that the increasing use of bleaching products by individuals especially the youth, posed grave social, economic and health hazards.

'With its negative effects on individuals, we therefore deem it necessary to sensitise our people as well as promote our own local products, which is Shea Butter,' she said.

The campaign is on the theme: 'Enlightening the youth for a transformed tomorrow.'

'Whichever ways SSB [Stop Skin Bleaching] is out to create awareness of the hazards bleaching products cause, and today SSB will like to share with you some dangerous effects of skin bleaching.'

She named some devastating effects of skin bleaching as being skin cancer, hyperpigmentation, skin infection, mercury poisoning, and skin irritation, poor skin healing and thinning of the skin.

'In view of this, I wish to request that you support us by funding these activities listed with any amount possible to enable us carry them out,' Ms Ganaa said.