Police in Gambia have started investigations into the deaths of 66 children after taking cough syrup.
The mysterious deaths of the children have been linked to four brands of cough syrups that were imported into the country.
The products – Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup – were imported from an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals.
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According to the WHO, manufacturers failed to provide guarantees about the safety of the syrups.
Gambian health officials and Red Cross workers have embarked searches in homes as well as pharmacies and markets, for the killer syrups as well as other unsafe medicines.
More than 16,000 pieces of the products have been located and taken away for destruction, a Red Cross official said.
Senior officials from Gambia Medicine Control Agency and the importers of the pharmaceutical products have since been invited for questioning, office of the President has announced.
Gambia President, Adama Barrow addressing the nation last Friday expressed regret over the death of the children and assured the nation that “the source of the contaminated drugs” would be investigated.
He announced government decision to review relevant laws and guidelines for imported drugs and plans to establish a laboratory capable of testing the safety and efficacy of medicines.
The president on Saturday evening further issued a strong statement, announcing suspension of license of the suspected importer and officially declaring commencement of police investigations.
Gambia President, Adama Barrow said that authorities would “leave no stone unturned” to unravel the mystery surrounding syrup and the death of the 66 children.
Some of the parents who lost their children are however, considering taking legal action of their own against health authorities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on October 5,2022 issued a global alert over the four cough syrups – warning they could be linked to acute kidney injuries and the Gambia children’s deaths in July, August and September.
