‘Mukorogo’ banned: President Kagame urges Ministry of Health, Police to quickly curb body bleaching products

Elias Hakizimana Nov 27, 2018Nov 29, 2018 0 Comments

By The Inspirer staff

The President of the Republic of Rwanda has urged the Rwanda National Police (RNP), the Ministry of Health (MoH known as MINISANTE for its French acronym) to look into and halt the issue of unhealthy trade and applicatiin of bleaching products and chemical agents.

The President made the comment on Sunday, replying to conservation on twitter about body bleaching cosmetic products or chemicals which some Rwandan girls and women have been indulged in using.

“Quite unhealthy among other things. Includes use of prohibited chemicals. MoH and RNP need to reign this in very quickly…!” Kagame wrote through his twitter handle on November 25, 2018.

Bleaching cream or product such as those containing Hydroquinone are used to lighten the dark patches of skin (also called hyperpigmentation, melasma, “liver spots,” “age spots,” freckles) caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine, or injury to the skin accorsing to experts in those products.

This substance works by blocking the process in the skin that leads decoloration.

Some use them in attempt look more beautiful in the eyes of men, so as to attract the opposite sex, which most of the people who joined the twitter conversation argued is lack of confidence in themselves, and underrating black coulour.

Below are some of the comments on this subject which made people talk via twitter:

Fiona Kamikazi Rutagengwa

Fiona Kamikazi Rutagengwa @Fiona_Kamikazi

I think @rwandastandards and

@RwandaHealth should start a campaign against skin bleaching, a BIG one because this is getting out of hand!

12:26 PM · Nov 24, 2018 · Twitter for iPhone

Ange.I. Kagame

Ange.I. Kagame @AngeKagame

Lessons around self love & appreciating the skin you’re in should start early, in our homes, in our communities. I hope young black girls(we) can find this validation within, before TV/Ads/“beauty products”, etc shove the wrong ideal beauty standards down our throats.😞😒

(https://twitter.com/AngeKagame/status/1067042025487417344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )

Nsanga Sylvie @NsangaSylvie

Replying to

@rwandastandards

@MKayisire

and 2 others

Thanks,we will make this a priority in our programs&spread the word.I am sure when we,African women will understand that,we don’t owe anyone especially men a change 2 our body&light skin, bleaching will stop #Stopbleaching #skinbleachingisnthealthy

10:55 AM · Nov 25, 2018 · Twitter for iPhone