Sun 09 October 2022:
In response to growing concerns about imported medicines, Gambia’s police announced on Saturday that they were opening an investigation into the deaths of dozens of children. Police announced in a statement that they were adding senior officers to the investigation after 66 children died, the majority of whom suffered from acute kidney failure.
India is investigating cough syrups made by a local pharmaceutical company after the World Health Organisation said they could be responsible for the deaths.
According to his office, President Adama Barrow gave the go-ahead for the health authorities “to suspend the license of the suspected… importer” involved in the case.
Barrow on Friday promised to boost health measures including better quality control over imported medicines.
He said the government would leave “no stone unturned” to get to the bottom of the incident.
INDIA TO INVESTIGATE DEATHS IN GAMBIA LINKED TO INDIAN-MADE COUGH SYRUP
The WHO on Wednesday issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India over possible links to the deaths.
Laboratory testing had found unacceptable levels of potentially life-threatening contaminants, the WHO said, adding that the products may have been distributed beyond the West African country.
Gambian health authorities had on September 23 ordered a recall of all medicines containing paracetamol or promethazine syrup.
Barrow announced a raft of measures to avoid future tragedies, including the creation of “a quality control national laboratory for drugs and food safety”.
He also promised to update the nation’s drugs-related laws to ensure regulation could prevent any such incidents in the future. He praised the work of the health ministry in preventing further deaths. He said the outbreak was “now under control, with only two cases reported in the last two weeks”.
On Friday, Barrow pledged to strengthen health policies, including tighter quality control over imported medications. He vowed that the government would investigate the incident thoroughly and leave “no stone unturned.”
The WHO on Wednesday issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India over possible links to the deaths.
Medical officers in The Gambia raised the alarm in July, after several children began falling ill with kidney problems three to five days after taking a locally sold paracetamol syrup. By August, 28 had died, but health authorities said the toll would likely rise. Now 66 are dead, WHO said on Wednesday.
Laboratory testing had found unacceptable levels of potentially life-threatening contaminants, the WHO said, adding that the products may have been distributed beyond the West African country.
On September 23, the Gambian health authorities issued a recall order for all medications containing promethazine syrup or paracetamol.
A number of steps were taken, including the establishment of “a quality control national laboratory for drugs and food safety,” by Barrow, in an effort to prevent tragedies in the future.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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