HEFAMAA URGES AESTHETICS, COSMETOLOGY PRACTITIONERS TO ELEVATE STANDARDS IN BEAUTY, WELLNESS  INDUSTRY

Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called on practitioners in the aesthetics care and cosmetology sector to elevate the standards of the beauty and wellness industry.

The call was made by the Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu on Tuesday at a one-day training programme with the theme: “Advancing Professionalism in Aesthetic Medicine”, held at Ikeja, Lagos.

The workshop, she said, aimed at addressing the growing need for enhanced regulatory measures and professional conduct within the industry and the need to adhere to best practices and ethical standards to ensure the safety and satisfaction of clients.

Idowu emphasised the necessity for continuous professional development and adherence to regulatory guidelines to mitigate risks associated with beauty and wellness treatments. She also highlighted the increasing demand for high-quality services and the role of practitioners in maintaining public trust.

The Executive Secretary acknowledged the tremendous growth of the beauty and wellness industry over the past decade and the corresponding responsibility to maintain the highest standards of practice.

In her words, “The beauty and wellness industry has seen tremendous growth over the past decade, bringing a corresponding responsibility to uphold high standards of practice. Whether aestheticians, cosmetologists, or other professionals, their work directly impacts clients’ health and well-being. Adherence to safety protocols and regulatory guidelines is essential”.

She reminded all relevant professionals, including aestheticians and cosmetologists, of their critical role in impacting the health and well-being of their clients, underscoring the importance of adhering to safety protocols and regulatory guidelines.

Dr. Idowu also emphasised HEFAMAA’s goal of promoting a culture of continuous improvement, total compliance with set standards, safety protocols, and understanding the legal implications, licensing and permit requirements, and responsibilities of aesthetic practitioners

The Executive Secretary noted the need for regulation in aesthetics medicine and cosmetology concerning recent incidents of complications from unregulated practices serving as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding high standards of care.

She reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to support practitioners by developing comprehensive guidelines and standards for aesthetic and cosmetic services, encompassing staff qualifications, facility hygiene, equipment safety, and ethical practices.

The Senior Special Assistant to Mr. Governor on Health, Dr. Toni Adeyemi, who also addressed the participants, emphasised the importance of protecting diagnostic patients and ensure they receive quality care in a safe environment. She commended participants for investing in their personal and business growth, noting that the workshop marked the beginning of greater achievements for their businesses.

The SSA expressed her hope that the workshop would inspire new ideas, connections, and networking opportunities for the participants and foster government collaboration to ensure clients have access to excellent cosmetological care.

In the same vein, the Director-General of Lagos Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, in his goodwill message, delivered on his behalf at the event by a Director from the Commission, Mr. Akilo Adeyinka said the workshop would complement the ongoing efforts by HEFAMAA to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safety within the aesthetic medicine industry.

Also delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (NAPRAS), Prof. Peter Olaitan said that the issue of complications is inevitable in the practice of aesthetics and cosmetology, just as complications do arise in other professions.

He, however, challenged  practitioners to put in place measures that can limit complications and handle such whenever they arise.

There were other goodwill messages from the Chairman of the Association of Spa and Cosmetology of Nigeria (ASCON), Chukwuma Emmanuel; the Chairman of the Association of Practitioners of Spa and Medical Aesthetics of Nigeria (APSMAN), Felix Avaja and the representative of the Lagos State College of Health Technology, among others.

One of the participants, Sandra Silvestre, expressed gratitude to HEFAMAA for the additional knowledge gained at the workshop with a promise to apply it to ensure the highest standards of safety and care for their clients.

According to her, the workshop represents a crucial step forward in safeguarding the beauty and wellness industry, ensuring that clients receive safe and effective treatments from well-regulated and qualified professionals.