Gambian police said on Saturday they had opened an investigation into the deaths of 66 children who died of acute kidney failure, in which cough syrups produced in India are suspected.
“The Gambia Police are establishing an Investigation Unit to immediately investigate and identify those responsible for this irreparable loss and bring them to justice,” it said in a statement.
The group is made up of high-ranking police officers with the required skills, he said, calling on the population for calm.
“Concern” of Gambian authorities
In the evening, the presidency announced that it had instructed Foreign Affairs to contact the Indian ambassador to express the government’s “deep concern”.
President Adama Barrow also ordered the license of the importer of the syrups in question to be suspended, the presidency said in a statement.
The president had assured on Friday night that “the government (would) do everything to clarify these facts.” He had announced certain measures against the importation of non-compliant drugs. But his intervention drew criticism for his lack of vigor and empathy.
The presidency announced Saturday night that it was sending a high-level delegation to the families to “share their pain.”
Suspected paracetamol syrups
The death of 66 children in the last three months is causing a stir in this small West African country. The Gambian authorities are suspicious of the paracetamol and promethazine syrups, which they ordered withdrawn.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert in turn on Wednesday and recommended the withdrawal everywhere of four cough and cold syrups produced by the Indian laboratory Maiden Pharmaceuticals and that “may have a link” with the recorded deaths in The Gambia.
Source: BFM TV
