The Ministry of Health said it would be increasing its inspections of businesses and vendors who sell illegal pharmaceutical bleaching products and confiscate them.

This, as the Health Ministry attempts to reduce the growing practice of skin-bleaching in Jamaica.

As such, the Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Jamaica Library Services, yesterday opened an educational lecture series on skin-bleaching.

The inaugural lecture, entitled 'Bleachers Beware', was scheduled to take place at Tom Redcam Library, Tom Redcam Avenue, St. Andrew.

The lecture series is part of a five-month islandwide campaign dubbed 'Don't kill the skin', the launch of which will take place in February, which is celebrated as Black History Month.

Damage to skin

Valerie Germaine, acting director of the Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Affairs Branch, in the Ministry of Health, said the idea for the campaign came out of a concern about the many illegal products, including some prescription items on the streets and the obvious damage it is doing to the body.

She also noted that some local dermatologists had expressed concern about some irreversible damage that had been done to the skin, as a result of the abuse of illegal products.

With the skin being the largest organ of the body, Mrs. Germaine explained that the lecture series and the upcoming public fora are critical to increase awareness of the dangers of skin-bleaching and how to identify the harmful pharmaceutical products on the market.