SA foreskins used to freshen foreign faces?

JournAIDS

10 August 2011

Does South Africa know where its discarded foreskins go?

The Medical Rights Advocacy Network fears that once the small strips of tissue are separated from their young hosts they could be illegally sold and exported to global cosmetic companies.

The organisation has written to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi calling on him to reconsider his decision to offer circumcision to new mothers in public hospitals amid fears that it is the commercial value of the foreskins that is behind the initiative.

Infant’s foreskins contain regenerative cells called fibroblasts which are used in some anti-aging lotions and potions.

However it would seem that the use of these treatments is currently limited and some products are still in the process of being tested for safety and efficacy.


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