By Buba Gagigo
Gambia’s Parliament would on Wednesday debate the death of 70 Gambian children linked to imported drugs manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceutical Limited in India.
“This is to notify all Hon. Members of the National Assembly that the Hon. Speaker is in receipt of a letter signed by at least one-quarter of all Hon. Members requesting a sitting of the National Assembly to be convened under section 98 (1) (a) (ii) of the 1997 Constitution, and Order 11 (3) of the Standings Orders of the National Assembly to debate over the current National Public Health Emergency, which resulted in the death of at least 70 innocent Gambian children according to government records.
“Accordingly, the Hon. Speaker is convening the said Extra-Ordinary Session scheduled for Wednesday 26th October, 2022, at 10:00am prompt,” a statement by Parliament announced on Thursday evening.
The children are believed to have died of a rare condition later identified as the ‘Acute Kidney Injury’ (AKI) caused by certain brands of imported syrups manufactured by the mentioned Indian firm.
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an alert of the dangerous substances contained in the syrups, The Gambia has conducted a medicine recall exercise from 5th to 9th October with another one underway today (Friday) ending Tuesday,