At least 66 children died in Gambia for ingesting contaminated cough syrups that came to that country from India.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a technical paper that “laboratory analysis of samples from each of the products confirms a contamination with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in unacceptable quantities “and stressed that these pediatric drugs would be the cause of the deaths recorded in the African country in the last quarter.
According to the WHO survey, the syrups “may be related to acute kidney damage“and the death of at least 66 children.
The director general of the health agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, assured that “the loss of young lives is more than heartbreaking for their families”.
Even if only contaminated products have been detected so far in The Gambiamay have been “distributed to other countries“from the African continent, warned the WHO.
“WHO recommends that all countries take over and remove these products circulation to avoid further damage to the sick ”, he assured.
Indian authorities investigate four cough and cold syrups, produced by the laboratory Maiden Pharmaceuticalsbased in the Indian state of Haryana.
The Indian Ministry of Health explained, in a statement published Thursday evening, that samples of the drugs indicated by the WHO are analyzed.
The products are i Oral solution of promethazineKofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip No.
The reaction in Gambia to the death of children
President Adama Barrow has ordered protective measures against the importation of inappropriate medicines and the creation of a control laboratory after the death of dozens of children who took Indian cough syrup in Gambia.
“I assure you that the government will everything to clarify these events“, he said after confirming the deaths of 66 children in the past three months in connection with this shipment of medicines that are requested and stolen from the health system with the assistance of the Red Cross.
In his speech, the Gambian president ordered investigate the origin of the adulterated syrupestablish safeguards to prevent the importation of inappropriate drugs and establish a drug control laboratory.
Authorities in this small West African country ordered on September 23 to recover all stocks of paracetamol or promethazine syrups allegedly linked to these cases.
In partnership with the Gambian Red Cross Society, the Gambian Ministry of Health has sent hundreds of young people to collect suspicious syrups through a campaign of House by house. The Gambia Medical Research Council has also sounded an alarm.
Meanwhile, the Gambian police announced on Saturday the opening of an investigation after the death of the 66 children.
“The Gambian police created a research group responsible for identifying those responsible for this irreparable loss and bringing them to justice, “the security body said in a statement.
The group is made up of senior police officers with the necessary skills, said a source, who asked the population to remain calm.
With information from agencies.
DS
Source: Clarin
