The Child Protection Alliance, The Gambia, has described the death of over 40 children and sixty more affected with Acute Kidney Injury as a result of possible causes of E. coli and toxicity from syrup paracetamol as a ‘national tragedy’.
“The CPA is of the considered view that this is a national tragedy and calls for immediate investigation on the circumstances surrounding the importation of the syrup paracetamol consignments into The Gambia.
“While we recognize the investigation efforts by the Ministry of Health, we equally call upon other authorities like the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare to play active roles in the investigation process and take strict action on any suspicion of foul play or act of negligence to deter future reoccurrences on the importation of drugs that endanger the lives and welfare of our children,” CPA said in a statement made available on Thursday.
CPA also said: “It is important to note that there is an established Medicines Control Agency which is mandated to regulate the quality and safety of medicines and related products and to ensure compliance in the importation and distribution of medicinal products in The Gambia.”
“Meanwhile, we want to remind the government of its primary duty as enshrined in Article 66 (a/b) of the Children’s Act 2005 towards the safeguarding, protection and promoting the welfare of children, thus the government cannot be complicit in matters affecting the lives and welfare of children.”
