Saffiatou Joof, a bright young poet who is set to launch her maiden poetry book next month, said she does her activism through poetry, a craft she uses to send her messages across.
A budding Computer Scientist, the 26-year-old sensational poet told the Fatu Network that she does poetry to represent the voice of the voiceless and issues happening around her.
“I use poetry to do my activism and to represent the voice of the voiceless. I wrote these poems [poems in her book that is set to be launched soon] because it is through this medium that I can express myself about the issues happening around me,” she explained.
Started writing poems in 2014, Saffiatou Joof said she was motivated by her sister who encouraged her to do poetry despite being a science student at school.
Miss Joof, who was never an art student, will be launching her maiden book titled Under the Spell of Poetry on November 5.
Many young Gambians are into writing but only a few among them are successful in publishing books. However, for Saffiatou, she said her book will serve as a motivation to whoever reads the book. She narrated that the book portrays Gambian society in all aspects of life.
“Under The Spell Of Poetry depicts our real Gambian society in all its glory. The celebration of some public figures and other issues in society. This book will motivate our minds and hearts. It will serve as a tool to understand our real societal problems,” she explained to The Fatu Network.
Saffiatou is currently a Computer Science student at the American International University and the admin manager of Bridge Construction.
“Gambian artists don’t have proper administrators that will be able to administer their craft and advise them as to what is playable in the market,” artist manager and music business consultant in the Gambia, D Jobz said as he outlined why Gambin music still remain less popular compared to artists from other countries in the Gambia.
Gambian music spectacle has seen some glimmer of growth over the years, however, despite the seemingly glittering fortune and headway in the Gambia music industry, foreign music continues to dominate Gambian media airwaves and night clubs. Gambian artists Binbunka and Chronic Bob as well as a music promoter and consultant, Dembo Jorbarteh alias D Jobz, shared their opinions about the dominance of foreign music in the Gambia and explained why Gambian music continues to linger behind compared to Senegalese and Nigerian music.
According to Binbunka, a female singer and the wife of singer Baddibunka, Gambian artists now produce quality music like those from Senegal and Nigeria. To Binbunka, many Gambians listen to Nigerian music because they chose to and not because of the bad quality of songs by Gambian artists.
She added that many Gambians prefer Nigerian music to Gambian songs because of the nature of clubbing.
“Nigerian music is a club type and the younger generation are well aware of clubs and partying, so they are familiar with those types of music,” Binbunka narrated.
On the side, Chronic Bob, another Gambian rapper who spoke to The Fatu Network, explained that Gambian music doesn’t have a wider market compared to other artists from different countries. This, many people including Gambians listen to those artists more than Gambians artists. He asserted that the Nigerian Afrobeat has taken over the music industry worldwide. He augmented that Gambian music riddim is not even recognised Internationally.
“We are moving but we are not yet there. Our genre itself should first be recognised. We need to do more work for our music to be internationally recognised,” he said.
The young rapper explained that it is sad that Gambian music presenters and DJs play more foreign songs than songs produced by Gambian artists.
Dembo Jobarteh, who is known to many by his sobriquet D Jobz, is a Gambian music promoter, artist manager and music business consultant. The outspoken D jobz said the Gambian music industry, based on the availability of crowds, has grown but business-wise, the industry is far from being on top.
Jobz, who at one time managed sensational Gambian rapper ST Brikama Boyo, said he doesn’t see the Gambian music industry as a developed enterprise in the business aspect.
“I have always said this. The music industry in the Gambia is partially developed. Is not fully developed because this is an industry where people depend entirely on gate-takings for survival,” he pointed out.
According to D Jobz, one reason why Gambian DJs and music presenters promote more foreign music is that Gambians have so much flair for anything international. He said Gambians believe that anything that comes from foreign is the best.
Jobz, in explaining the slow pace of Gambian music and the reason for the promotion of more foreign songs in the country, argued that another reason for it is that Gambian DJs and presenters do not have or understand the legislative aspects of the music business.
“Gambian DJs and presenters don’t know about the legislative copyright laws, infringement, and the realities surrounding copyright laws in the country. But because the copyright laws in the country have not been enforced, the DJs and presenters will of course continue to play more foreign songs in the country,” he asserted.
He pointed out the copyright act should be guiding Gambian DJs to be playing Gambian songs.
D Jobz agreed with Chronic Bob that Nigerian Afrobeat sound is epic and is the dominion in the music industry which is why it is controlling the music scene, another reason why many align, listen or enjoy Nigerian songs more than Gambian songs.
“For our music to be able to be considered an international level, there are so many factors that will be responsible to be in place. One is that the marketable genre has to be played by our artists,” he pointed out.
He added that for the genre to be adapted and consistent, Gambian artists need to have skills to maintain that.
Hardly, a year passes by without Gambians longing for foreign artists to come to the Gambia despite the crop of artists the country is endowed with. Numerous Gambians preferred to invest in foreign artists to come to the country rather than Gambian artists they have here.
Official release is this November 2022! Pre-order it today to add to your library and be the one of the first people to enjoy this beautiful love letter to our city of Banjul!
I wrote the story of the Banjul mosquitoes about a decade ago but was recently encouraged by a friend to turn it into a children’s book. I immediately fell in love with the idea, but then I realized that it might be challenging for me to change from an adult audience to a younger one so I decided to recruit my niece, Saffie Jagne, to help me make that transition.
Of course, she said, yes! I’m her uncle and when I say “jump”, she says “how high Uncle Mo Ndow.” Saffie is a wonderful writer in her own right. I would have described her as a brilliant writer, but the word “brilliant” is the word most abused by the British. Apparently, everything in the UK is “brilliant” except for the weather.
The Mischievous Mosquitoes of Banjul is the first of five books in my “Memories of a Gambian Child” series under my “MoBooks” brand. The books will be published by Fye Network, a media company that specializes in curating African inspired content for children. Look out for the next book in the series called “Zoo Keeper” which will be coming out next summer.
My desire was to work with a publisher who can help me deliver the book in the proper context. Fye Network delivered that and more. We knew this was a match made in heaven from our very first Zoom meeting. There was an instant connection and a mutual excitement that our collaboration would be unique. At the end of the meeting, we gave each other High Fives, Zoom style.
My vision for the MoBooks children’s series is to help improve reading culture by making reading a pleasure, especially for children in underprivileged homes, more so on the African continent. For example, UNICEF Gambia estimates that 2 thirds of ten-year old children in The Gambia can’t read and understand simple texts.
This book series will help by bringing diversity, context, and representation to the table, all of which are relevant components in making reading and learning to read fun and enjoyable. The books some of us read as children did not represent us, so reading became more like a chore instead of something to look forward to.
For most of us, our parents never read us bedtime stories. We began to learn to read in grade school. My late father was an educator, but I don’t recall him reading to me as a child. Reading is just not part of our culture even though early reading in any language is fundamental to cognitive development.
The fact that English is a second language for most is also another setback. I’m somewhat convinced that most of us are only operating at 70% or less of our potential because of our lag time in learning to read.
The Memories of a Gambian Child book series seeks to contribute toward changing this by making reading fun, whilst providing much needed context and representation at the same time. I can guarantee that parents will be more than happy to read my books to their children.
For all those who are not African, I would like to tell you that this book transcends race, color, and creed. It has a universal message that will resonate with anyone, no matter the geographical location or national origin. And, it will add flavor to your bookcase at home. Get it for your children, nieces, nephews, and grandkids.
Parents, get your own copy too. You are never too old for a good bedtime story otherwise; you’ll end up stealing your child’s copy. Don’t forget to get a copy for grandma and grandpa too. Kindly share this with your family, friends and loved ones! Your colleagues too. They say that the role of literature is to instruct and delight, and I believe this book series has achieved that.
Finally, my deepest gratitude to my family for the infinite support and encouragement. I would also like to express my appreciation to my employer, Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP (JKZ). Everyone at the firm has been very supportive throughout this process.
Some will quickly pop into my office for a brief update. Others will ask me when they see me in the corridors or when they catch me in the kitchen scavenging for an afternoon snack. Others have even allowed their children to be part of my sample readers and they provided me with invaluable feedback. Their support was part of the motivating factors during the process, and I truly appreciate that. I’m indeed lucky to be part of the JKZ Family.
The founder and CEO of Innovarx, Dr. Ismail Badjie, has in a statement assured their customers of safe and quality medicines “sourced from reputable pharmaceutical companies in the United States by our US-based parent company.”
He said “the strict consumer protection mechanisms of the FDA and the reputation of our distributors gives us a security blanket and quality assurance cover that we extend to the Gambian People. Besides closely vetting our sources, our pharmacy operation in the Gambia is aligned to United States standards and runs on electronic prescription processing. This technology allows us to track every single prescription that we have dispensed since we opened our doors.”
Read the full statement below….
…
Dear Innovarx Customers,
Our company joins the rest of the world in mourning the death of the 69 innocent Gambian children linked to a drug-induced kidney injury. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of all the victims. At this point in time, given the mood of national mourning, we have been debating how we should respond to this crisis given that we are a leading company in the distribution and dispensing of pharmaceutical products. We have listened with keen interest to the new policy pronouncements and measures that the Government has announced in respect of this tragedy. These measures are focused on limiting any further damage caused by imported pharmaceuticals and uncovering the root causes of the system failures that led to this situation. We hope these measures will have the desired effect, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of these investigations.
Meanwhile, based on the number of queries and inquiries that we have received, we feel it is important that we assure our patients and their sponsors in the diaspora that none of our medications (over the counter and/or prescription) were in any way involved in this or any other similar incident related to sub-standard pharmaceuticals.
Fidelity towards uncompromised quality is the bedrock of our company ethos and the reason why our entire medication inventory has always been sourced from reputable pharmaceutical companies in the United States by our US-based parent company. The strict consumer protection mechanisms of the FDA and the reputation of our distributors gives us a security blanket and quality assurance cover that we extend to the Gambian People.
In addition, besides closely vetting our sources, our pharmacy operation in the Gambia is aligned to United States standards and runs on electronic prescription processing. This technology allows us to track every single prescription that we have dispensed since we opened our doors.
None of this is by accident: it was all by design.
When we started our journey in the Gambia in December 2019, we were aware of the pharmaceutical vulnerabilities of the entire sub-region given the proliferation of sub-standard medications. The damage it has done over the decades is unquantifiable.
It is a well-known fact that the counterfeit drugs industry is a Billion Dollar Industry around the world, and Africa accounts for 40% to 50% of the world’s substandard medications. We estimate that 1 in 2 medications that our people are exposed to would not pass quality control in a western country like the USA. This lack of probity invariably presents in one of two ways.
The drug may contain little or none of the active ingredient on which the effectiveness of the medication hinges. (e.g., Metformin 500mg made only with 100mg); and/or
It may contain harmful inactive ingredients (e.g., anti-freeze) because it was manufactured in facilities that do not meet the WHO GMP (Good Manufacturing Standards) — and the counterfeit drugs industry is very intentional about taking advantage of those nations which have a relatively weak regulatory environment and lack the laboratory infrastructure to conduct regular quality control
This latest event is therefore not an isolated one, and in our view, it is only a microcosm of a bigger problem across the region.
While we hope the nation heals through decisive and corrective action, we want to remind all citizens that as key stakeholders in the ecosystem, they should always apply proper scrutiny when seeking medication.
We thank every one of our patients, diaspora customers and company shareholders for the continued trust and unrelenting support they have given us over the course of our first three years. Despite the challenges, we remain confident in our business proposition, and we believe we are ideally positioned to make a significant difference in the lives of our customers and/or their sponsors over time.
As a result, we remain steadfast in our mission to become access equalizers and will continuously strive to restore the dignity back into our people through excellence in service delivery.
Justice Momodou SM Jallow, who presided over Babucarr Keita trial, has cautioned family members and sympathizers of Babucarr (Bob) Keita not to mock the victim, Fatou Ngoneh Mbye.
This came after Justice Jallow acquitted and discharged Bob Keita who was standing trial on a single count of rape.
“Please, when you go back to your places or houses discuss this matter responsibly and try as individuals [to see] what you will do to help the young girl who is a victim in either way. As a court, we will make sure that justice is served.”
Justice Jallow acquitted and discharged Babucarr Keita following a ‘nolle prosequi’ filed by the State to discontinue prosecution.
The ruling brought an end to a slightly over two-year trial. In the courtroom, family members and sympathizers of Bob welcomed the ruling with tears and smiles.
Bob was accompanied home by hundreds of people who have been calling for his release for the past two years.
Justice Jallow assured Gambians that the court will remain a house of justice.
The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, together with its partners such as The Gambia Police Force, World Health Organization- Banjul office, National Roads Authority, University of The Gambia, and Gambia Red Cross Society have on Friday 7th October 2022 kicked off a week-long road safety campaign across the country.
The team will first have a meeting at Barra, mostly with drivers in the North Bank Region of the country before proceeding to Farafenni the same day for another meeting. Similar engagements will happen in Soma, Basse, Bansang, and some major towns and villages in the hinterland of the country.
During the campaign, key messages such as drive slowly, don’t drink and drive, speed kills, the importance of using a seat belt, avoid telephone while driving will be preached mostly to drivers.
Annually, there are over 700 cases of road traffic crashes and about 123 fatal cases (Police Accident Report 2021). As a result, the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure has set an ambitious target of reducing the number of road traffic crashes to zero road fatalities and serious injuries in the Gambia by 2030.
The main objective of the tour is to raise public awareness and improve the skills, attitudes, and behaviors of road users on road safety and reduce the prevalence of road traffic crashes.
The Greater Banjul Areas and the West Coast Region are also not left behind during the campaign as the touring team will be visiting key strategic locations of these communities where accidents usually occurred.
Bob Keita’s lead defense counsel LS Camara on Tuesday 11th October denied the admission of the DNA report to be tendered as evidence in court after the forensic expert from Ghana Superintendent Edward Kofi Abban opened it in court.
The forensic officer, who told the court that he holds a doctorate degree in forensic science, began his testimony by explaining to the court how he got involved in the case. However, the DNA expert could not proceed for the court to know the paternity of deceased Baby Muhammed as senior defense counsel LS Camara insisted on the admissibility of the DNA report as evidence.
“My lord, I received information from my commissioner CID informing me that the Inspector General of Police of The Gambia had a case that requires a DNA and that they would need the forensic lab in Ghana to assist the IGP in Gambia have a DNA examination; so, we should prepare the laboratory to receive the blood samples from The Gambia for analysis,” the forensic expert from Ghana told the court.
Mr. Abban told the court that on 6th September the forensic office in Ghana received an officer in the name of Francis Jatta who came to the lab with the blood samples collected from The Gambia.
The witness further informed the court that the samples were received and on the 7th September he personally completed a chain of custody and signed to have received the blood samples in the laboratory.
“According to the protocols of the laboratory, once samples are received, they are sent for storage. My lord, when the samples arrived, I checked them to make sure that what is labelled at the back of the envelope is the same as what is labelled inside the envelope or whatever package. The samples were then kept in secure storage pending further analysis. The analysis of the samples has been done and the report duly submitted. My lord, since the request for DNA examination came from the IGP of The Gambia, the envelope was addressed to the IGP office in the Gambia.”
There was an argument on the admissibility of the DNA report.
“My lord, we have an extensive objection for the DNA report to be admitted as evidence. The document said to be tendered as evidence is not admissible under any law in this country dealing with the admissibility of the expert evidence,” defense lawyer LS Camara told the court while objecting as senior state counsel P Gomez prayed for the court to admit the DNA report as evidence.
Defense counsel LS Camara told the court that the law requires the prosecution to serve the defense with every document it intends to rely on.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday 12 October 2022 for the defense to continue its objection on the DNA report to be admitted as evidence in court.
The Brikama Area Council recognized Village Development Committee of Bafuloto in Kombo Central successfully held their capacity building over the weekend to identify the roles of members who dispute the boycott of the village Alkalo, Mustapha Saidy.
The recognized VDC is endorsed by the Brikama Area Council, the community development office, and the ward councillor is being led by Kebba Ansu Saidy. However, the Alkalo has his rival VDC spearheaded by Mbye Jassey. According to the local government act, the Alkalo serves as an advisor to the village development committee therefore his absence from the function of the recognized VDC could retard development.
Speaking at the end of a two-day capacity enhancement training, the chairman of the recognized VDC Mr Kebba Ansu Saidy pointed out that they anticipated uniting and working with the current Alkalo but to no avail.
“He doesn’t respond to us anytime we need him. Infant, there is a dormant VDC bank account which we want to activate but we need the village Alkalo to write a letter of authorization for us to access that account. Our malaise is impacting negatively on programs,” Kebba Ansu Saidy appealed.
The head of the Alkalo’s rival VDC Mr Mbye Jassey asserted that they finalized the registration process with the department of community development after being elected by different ‘kabilos’ in the village.
“We are working directly with the Alkalo and currently working on some projects,” Mr Jassey said.
The ward councillor for Kembujeh ward, Mr Alieu Lito Darboe said he is elected on a party ticket, but he represents the entire residents of his ward without discrimination.
“As VDC, you are the entry point of development to the village. The current Alkalo Mustapha Saidy was summoned to the Area Council but didn’t turn up and only send his rival VDC which we don’t recognize. The VDC in Bafuloto is headed by Kebba Ansu Saidy, the body mandated to take care of development programs in the village. The Alkalo has an advisory role only,” Councillor Darboe clarified.
The Community Development officer for the West Coast region, Mr Njaga Khan clarified that the village of Alkalo has no right to dissolve VDC.
“The Alkalo is the head of the village, and you should brief him on the outcome of your training despite his absence. Constant meetings are important because you should be accountable to the people. There is a prospect of development in our village provided you are united,” Njaga Khan advised.
When contacted for his reaction to boycotting the VDC training, the Bafuloto Village Alkalo Mustapha Saidy described the VDC as the group initially calling themselves a “task force”.
“If I call them for a meeting, they never turned up so why should I answer them? I don’t recognize them as VDC, my recognized VDC is headed by Mbye Jassey. This group hijacked the former VDC led by Ebrima Sarjo. I don’t know the way they came to be the genuine VDC. The villagers selected the current VDC and install Mbye Jassey as a leader. This is the group I am working with right now,” Alkalo Saidy said.
Bafuloto’s situation is on red alert as each VDC faction remains stiff on the stands.
The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) and Female Lawyers Association – Gambia (FLAG) have in a joint statement called for an independent inquiry into the importation of contaminated syrups from India linked to the death of cumulatively 69 children.
Read joint statement below…
STATEMENT ISSUED ON 10 OCTOBER 2022
JOINT STATEMENT OF THE GAMBIA BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE FEMALE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION ON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF 69 GAMBIAN CHILDREN FROM ACUTE KIDNEY INJURIES LINKED TO THE CONSUMPTION OF SUBSTANDARD DRUGS IMPORTED INTO THE COUNTRY
The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) and the Female Lawyers Association (FLAG) are saddened to learn of the untimely deaths of 69 Gambian children from Acute Kidney Injuries (AKI) linked to the consumption of medicinal products imported from an Indian Company, Maiden Pharmaceutical Limited (Haryana, India). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Report Alert dated 5th of October 2022, the identified medicinal products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Couch Syrup and Magrip N Cough Syrup (the medicinal products).
The laboratory report of the samples further confirms that the aforementioned medicinal products contained unacceptable high amounts of Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol. Both diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. According to the WHO, the four medicinal products referenced in the alert are ‘‘unsafe, and their use especially in children may result in serious injury or death”. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that the said medicinal products were imported into the country and have taken steps to withdraw the products from the market and homes across the country.
The importation of pharmaceutical products in The Gambia is regulated and administered by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in accordance with the Medicines and Related Products Act 2014. The primary responsibility of the MCA under the act is to regulate the quality and safety of medicines and related products. The GBA and FLAG are gravely concerned that contaminated paediatric medicinal products were imported into the country from a manufacturer whose reputation and credibility according to widely available public records is dubious. We trust that it is the responsibility of the body charged with regulating the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that the quality and standard of drugs imported into the country are safe for human consumption. The general populace has the right to know how such dangerous/contaminated and unsafe products were allowed into the country and administered to children.
The GBA and FLAG are calling on the Government (as duty bearer) to take its responsibility as the primary protector of the citizenry to investigate this tragic incident and thereafter take steps to ensure appropriate measures are taken to hold those responsible accountable. We recommend the constitution of an independent inquiry with multiple stakeholders and experts, including the National Human Rights Commission, to provide answers to the public and the bereaved families following the deaths presumably linked to the importation and consumption of the substandard medications. The inquiry should shed light on the following questions of public interest:
a) How were the substandard medications manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceutical imported and distributed in the country?
b) The role of the Ministry of Health, the Medicines Control Agency, and Pharmacy Council in the importation of the substandard medications in The Gambia?
c) Does the Medicines Control Agency have sufficient capacity to ensure quality and safety of drugs imported into the country? If not, what steps is the Government taking to increase the Agency’s capacity?
d) What steps will the Government take to re-examine the import license regime, the regulatory framework, and its efficacy in ensuring quality control and early detection of substandard products before its entry into the country?
e) What are the plans in place to prevent a reoccurrence of incidents such as the death of the 69 children?
To ensure that the person(s)/entity(ies) responsible for the importation and distribution of the substandard medications are held accountable, The GBA and FLAG demand that the Government of The Gambia takes the following steps expeditiously:
Robustly pursue the Indian Manufacturer, Maiden Pharmaceutical Ltd using its bilateral ties with our sister republic of India to ensure that the manufacturers are held accountable, and the victims are adequately compensated.
Hold accountable any party or authority complicit in the importation, sale, and distribution of the substandard medications attributable to the deaths of the 69 Gambian children.
Leave no stone unturned to ensure there is accountability and justice for the victims of this travesty through the pursuit of legal action against the persons and institutions responsible for the importation and distribution of the substandard medicinal products. The GBA and FLAG stand in solidarity with the bereaved families and demand justice and accountability.
The GBA and FLAG are available to support the Government in its quest to ensure accountability, justice and safeguard the interest of Gambians. The GBA and FLAG extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We join the entire population to mourn the loss of these innocent lives.
Mc Cham Jnr, the National Youth President of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has said President Adama Barrow has championed insults in the Gambian political arena and that his platform is being used to insult opposition leaders.
The GDC youth leader uttered this as he blasts the Gambia Police Force for questioning and eventually detaining comedian Alhagie Muhammad Darboe for a live video on Facebook regarding the death of sixty-nine (69) Gambian children who died from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).
“President Barrow has championed insults in our politics as his political platform has been used on so many occasions to launch insults at opposition leaders in a very ill-mannered way and Barrow never has the audacity to stop or ban those doing it,” he said.
According to Mc Cham Jnr, the questioning and eventual detention of comedian Muhammad Darboe is “morally wrong” after witnessing the worst situations where leaders would be insulted. He alluded several people had done similar things in the past but never called for questioning or being detained.
“We have seen Baba Jah insulting Ousainou Darboe on a joint show with Muhammad Darboe on two occasions and no action was taken by the police to call him for questioning. In addition, he insulted the parent of Essa Faal, and he walked out free with his head held high in a country where we honour and give maximum respect to our parents,” he claimed.
He added that NPP Journalist Babourcarr Bahoum had also gone against his [MC Cham Jnr] party leader’s character, Mama Kandeh and the police made no such thing.
“The police got me thinking of the Animal Farm where all animals are equal before the law but there are some who are more equal than the others before the law”, he declared.
The young politician called for decency in Gambian politics and demanded the immediate release of comedian Muhammad Darboe.
Muhammad Darboe was invited by the police for questioning in the early hours of Sunday. However, he is yet to be released. It is still not known if he is or will be charged.
Alim Gitteh, father of one-year-old Jalika Gitteh who died of acute kidney injury (AKI) recalls the tough decision he had to make for his daughter to be operated on before finally succumbing to AKI. Alim, who is a native of Kitty in the West Coast Region said he had to make a tough decision when his daughter was diagnosed with AKI. Gitteh said he was given an ultimatum for his daughter to be operated on in a bid to save her life.
‘’I remember the Doctor telling me that her situation has reached a life-threatening stage and asked me if I could decide so she could be operated on. I asked for some time to think about it. It was a tough decision to make as a parent. I spoke to my wife, but she too could not tell me anything at that time. I couldn’t arrive at a decision. I remember walking back to the Doctor’s office and asking him if there were other alternatives to help save my daughter’s life. The Doctor told if she was not operated on, a lot of damage could be caused to her abdomen. I had no other choice but to trust God and give my consent to the operation.’’
A tough call but Alim agreed to the operation as he continued to ask the difficult questions. Alim said he asked the Doctor what type of procedure was about to be done on his daughter and asked if it required open abdominal surgery.
“The Doctor told me no, that they were only going to make a hole to allow them to remove the urine that has been in the baby’s kidney for days. That was how I signed the consent form. I felt sorry for my child because she was going through a lot of pain. I carried my child up to the door of the surgical room and was asked by the Doctor to stay back. All the kids that went through surgery before my daughter, all came out dead. I stood at the door while three dead bodies of little children were taken out of the surgical room where my daughter had been taken.’’
A sight of horror he said. Alim said he was relieved after his daughter’s successful operation. But what happened in the next hours according to Alim, is something that no parent should see their child go through.
‘’My daughter was still breathing. My hopes were at least up. After the operation, she went through intense pain as she continued to cry the entire night. I went to the hospital the next morning and was asked to go buy some medicines for her.’’
Alim’s one-year-old daughter would, unfortunately, be part of the 69 children who have so far succumbed to AKI. He has joined other Gambians to ask the Gambia government to hold accountable whoever authorized Maiden Pharma products to be sold in The Gambia.
An alleged fraud scandal in Ecobank Gambia is raising eyebrows as concerned customers begin demanding answers. The financial institution made headlines a fortnight ago after it was alleged that a staff member of the bank stole a whooping 1.5 million in Gambian currency. The stolen funds allegedly belonged to a deceased customer of the bank.
The news of the alleged fraud scandal has since been met with strong reactions from customers of Ecobank as they demand answers from the bank. A longstanding and loyal customer who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said he has been banking with Ecobank since 2008. The news of the alleged fraud case he says has left him calculating his risks, especially after a similar situation happened at another bank a few years ago.
“It’s sad that this incident has occurred at a reputable bank such as Ecobank with sound controls and compliance. We expect the bank to be upfront and let the customers know the full story and what corrective actions to take to avoid a reoccurrence. It’s not enough to say the deposits are safe with them.’’
Ecobank issued a statement after the alleged fraud scandal made headlines. While the bank didn’t say if the allegations were true or not, they have assured their customers that their deposits are safe.
“It has come to the attention of the management of Ecobank Gambia Ltd that various social media outlets are reporting an alleged fraud involving an employee of the Bank. The Bank wishes to assure all customers, stakeholders, and the general public that their deposits are safe. We remain vigilant and always work to protect the interest of our esteemed customers at all times.’’
Another customer of the bank who also spoke to this medium said Ecobank’s statement creates more doubts than answers, adding that they should be upfront with their customers about the fraud issue.
“Ecobank Gambia Limited, this is the worst PR ever written. Nothing was said here. Nothing on here is remotely an assurance to any customer. Is it true? Is there an ongoing investigation? Someone needs to do better PR for you guys. As a customer, this creates more doubt than anything.’’
The Gambia is a member of the 194 member states of the WHO as referenced in the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). Article 21(c) and (d) of the Constitution of WHO signed 22 July 1946 and entered into force 07 April 1948 stressed standards with respect to diagnostic procedures for international use as well as respects to the safety, purity and potency of pharmaceutical products moving in international commerce.
State Parties in Africa must learn from The Gambia’s case to appreciate the treaty for the establishment of the proposed African Medicines Agency (AMA) adopted in Addis Ababa on 11 February 2019. Today, this evening, I checked the status list of this treaty and saw that Gambia is among the countries refusing to submit it’s signature as at 27 April 2022.
To escape the trouble of medical commerce, State Parties must come together and harmonize regulations to protect our medical market from drugs out of specification. How can we be safe when drugs can specifically be produced for African’s medical market, while not even a diagnostic stick produced in Senegal fails to meet international standards for european export.
Apparently, in The Gambia, our medical supply chain is infected with corruption and nepotism. A country where medical and related products regulators are conflicted as license holders and inspectors at the same time. But then, who cares?
October is declared Breast Cancer Awareness month throughout the world, hence the name Pink October.
Being the most common cancer by incidence globally, it calls for such attention.
According to WHO in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths out of which the Gambia registered 26 deaths.
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of breast tissue. Whilst there are no known causes, there are many risk factors predisposing to the condition.
The female gender and age around 40 and above are the two highest risk factors. It is, however, important to note that all women after attaining the age of menarche (menses) can develop this condition but the peak incidence occurs around age 40 and above. Hence the importance for every female to be aware of this malignancy.
The male gender is not an exception, but incidence is low, out of every 1000 cases, one is likely to be of the male gender.
Other risk factors include increasing age, obesity, harmful use of alcohol, family history of breast cancer, history of radiation exposure, broad reproductive age (early menarche-late menopause) tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy.
Those born with BRCA I, BRCA II genes are at higher risk.
Behavioural choices and related interventions that reduce the risk of breast cancer include:
Prolonged breastfeeding,
Regular physical activity,
Weight control,
Avoidance of harmful use of alcohol,
Avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke,
Avoidance of prolonged use of hormones; and
Avoidance of excessive radiation exposure.
Breast cancer most commonly presents as a painless lump or thickening in the breast. It is important that women finding an abnormal lump in the breast to consult a health practitioner without a delay of more than 1-2 months even when there is no pain associated with it. Seeking medical attention at the first sign of a potential symptom allows for more successful treatment.
Generally, symptoms of breast cancer include:
A breast lump or thickening.
Alteration in size, shape or appearance of a breast.
Dimpling, redness, pitting or other alteration in the skin.
Change in nipple appearance or alteration in the skin surrounding the nipple (areola); and/or
Abnormal nipple discharge.
The presence of one/more of these symptoms doesn’t translate to cancer directly, it could be something else, but you can only find out by visiting a health care centre for test, examination and treatment.
To conclude, look at your breast, touch to feel, check with health care providers for any abnormalities.
For a country deeply enmeshed in economic hardship and struggling to propel its population to some millions, infant mortality is one of the worst things to bedevil it. It is quite worrying that what initially appeared as paranormal deaths are now attributed to Indian-synthesized substandard medications flooding our local pharmacies.
This has raised quizzical eyebrows from all corners over the functionality of our health system, the competence of our very Health Ministry, and the impalpable service of the so-called pharmaceutical council. The fact that public hospitals are devoid of drugs and incessantly refer patients to buy prescribed medications from local pharmacies is beyond me and contests to validate this claim. The ministry is dutybound to ensure that pharmacies at public hospitals never run out of drugs.
Some citizens, like I heard over the radio in a morning show aboard a cab while going to school, also blame the paucity of drugs at public hospitals on health workers, saying that some of them pilfer from hospital pharmacies to furnish their own at home. That, if proven true, is the depth of iniquitous disingenuity and criminality; and the issue should be probed to bring culprits to book.
The high allotment of the budget reserved for the Ministry of Health is suggestive of the paramountcy of health to our existence. After such heavy expenditure yielding a dismal output in health care delivery, one is tempted to ask: is the Health Ministry spending all of the allotment, or, The Gambia, as a country, takes pleasure in self-imposed affliction by being inertial to the motion of growth and development?
When the Health Minister blew the whistle on the monumental corruption at his ministry right in front of lawmakers in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, many Gambians were excited at his undisguised aversion to corruption and waited with dewy-eyed anticipation to his—or the government’s—punitive stance. How this revelation died out with impunity further ossified people’s belief in the prevalence of the said canker in many facets of the ministry.
Our country, at this age of its independence, should be somewhat sophisticated to pre-empt tragedies that are hitherto uncharacteristic of countries serious enough to be dubbed a third world, much less those in the pantheon of developed countries. If our country had a quality control unit at our highly permeable borders, we would not be at the mercy of stratospheric inpouring of not only unfit pharmaceuticals but also other chemically fortified consumables.
The number of deaths in relation to the conflicted (lethal if you like) syrups might have even surpassed the 66 we acknowledged. Do we know how many children have died aloof from the hospital, and whose deaths can be traceable to the same syrups doing the rounds in our country? How long will it take unsuspecting and conservative nursing mothers to dispense with the remaining collection of syrups they usually keep and give to their babies in the event of mild sickness, even without going to the hospital for diagnosis?
This writer pleads with you to take it upon yourself and see what obtains for your mother, sisters, aunties, friends and other relatives. Reach out to them and see the kind of syrups they are giving to their babies or keeping with them for future use. Discard any syrup you see that is infamous for the deadly acute kidney injury, as pictures of them are all over the internet.
This situation could have serious economic implications for our country’s pharmaceutical industry. Some people have already lost faith in our pharmacies, with others arguing that only a few sells good yet expensive drugs. But an ordinary citizen is too financially blind to make a distinction between pharmacies that sell authentic drugs and those that don’t. Consequently, he remains being vulnerable.
For this and other problems to end, Africa, in general, should veer away from its consumer identity and build a new profile that would see it as a producer. The saying that who feeds you controls you cannot be truer. This is what Africa needs to understand and wake from its inaction.
Following the deaths of 66 Gambian children from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) linked to contaminated cold and cough syrups manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, an Indian drug manufacturer, the company has come out with a release in what it calls “clarification regarding the ongoing controversy involving the company’s name” and argues that it has “valid drug approvals for the export of the products” and that it does not sell “anything in domestic market, so it is only for export”.
Since the WHO’s medical product alert, the Gambian President Adama Barrow addressed the nation yesterday and commended the Health Ministry for its “timely detection of the outbreak”. Meanwhile, Maiden Pharma says it has always followed the protocols of the health authorities and that it has been obtaining raw materials from reputable companies.
“We are in the field of medicines for over three decades and have been diligently following the protocols of the health authorities including Drug Control General (India) and the State Drugs Controller, Haryanna.
We have valid drug approvals for the export of the products in question and we are not selling anything in domestic market, so it is for export only. We have been obtaining the raw materials from the certified and reputed companies,” a Maiden Pharma press statement reads.
The company also says it is shocked to have heard media reports of the deaths of the children as it only receives the information from its agent in the Gambia on the 5th of October 2022.
“We are shocked to hear the media reports regarding the deaths and deeply saddened on [sic] this incident but we received the official information from our agent at [sic] the Gambia on the 5th October 2022 and on the 7th October 2022 and the sample were drawn by the CDSCO along with all relevant documents in question in presence of our directors,” the statement continues.
The company has also made clear that it will not comment on the issue henceforth since the matter is already pending investigation.
“The samples have been drawn by the CDSCO officials and we are awaiting the results and since the matter is already pending investigation and subjudice [sic], we cannot comment on any other issues and shall update you in future as and when we receive the information,” the release ends.
The former President Yahya Jammeh who is currently on exile in Equatorial Guinea launched a nationwide witch hunt exercise between 2008 and 2009 which has resulted in forty-one (41) deaths while others who survived are still alive battling with a range of challenges. Years after the incident, it still continues to have a serious impact on the lives and livelihood of victims and their families.
Yaye Bojang, a resident of Jambanjelly Village and a mother of four children [three girls and a boy] who also survived the witch-hunting and is the breadwinner of her family, recalled her ordeal and described it as the darkest chapter of her life.
“I was humiliated. I have been a widow for years after I lost my husband to the witch hunt exercise. And because of my terrible financial situation, all my children have dropped out of school. As a poor widow, I cannot provide food for the family and pay school fees as well. We need support. Watching my children under the care of others is never my wish, but circumstances forced me to allow them to move and stay elsewhere.
Remembering the past and my current condition keeps me crying every day. Without support from people, we sometimes find it difficult to get food. Prices of rice and other food commodities are skyrocketing daily, making our sustenance more difficult,” she lamented.
Yaye Bojang is a victim and poor widow of four children
Bojang said her husband’s death left her in the dark, adding that things became more traumatizing when she also lost her son.
She expressed that her son was a source of hope and courage. “My son died a few years ago on a perilous journey to Europe. My father was the one supporting me after my husband’s death. Unfortunately, he has also died. I don’t get any support from the government.”
Another victim is Mariama Saidy, a 52-years-old widow and a resident of Jambanjelly village.
“I lost the strength to walk, and now I depend on my daughters for support. I was healthy, but now I keep visiting the hospital due to my health conditions. I don’t have someone to help, so my daughters dropped out of school.”
Mariama Saidy is a 52-years-old widow
The 52-year-old widow is the breadwinner of her family of six children [four girls and two boys]. She said she is disappointed in the government for not providing them with their urgent needed supports.
“I don’t think we will get justice and supports because the white paper [TRRC report] has been out for months now, but we have not heard from the government since.
Seeing my children at home not going to school causes me more pain, because in this generation if you don’t have educated children, you will live a difficult life. I fear that we will not get justice, and this keeps me crying. Occasionally, my daughters keep calming me down whenever they see me cry.”
Ms Saidy urged people to provide any support, particularly for her children to continue their schooling.
Buba Sano and Ebrima Darboe are other survivors of the so-called witch hunting exercise. 40-year-old Buba Sano disclosed that he has undergone several operations and has lost the strength to work.
“I have become weak because of those operations. However, if I don’t go to work, my family will starve. I now suffer from a severe stomach pain which I fear will kill me if I don’t get the required medical treatment.
All these started showing up after the witch hunting exercise in which I was mistreated. I am advised not to engage in hard labor, but because I have no other means to earn a living, I am still taking the risk to provide for my family,” he narrated.
Darboe said he is owing people a lot of money which he borrowed and spent on his medications, but said he is however gratefully because those he owes understand his health condition hindering him from paying.
In tears, the old man confirmed that he has never gotten any support from the government.
Neneh Babou appears to be in her early 40s. She is a resident of Essau. She was pregnant at the time she experienced the witch-hunting exercise in 2009.
Babou revealed that she lost her baby three months after giving birth. “I lost my baby due to the severe torture I went through. I however gave birth, but three months later my baby died because I was sick and unable to breastfeed and take care of him. Since then, I have not given birth to any other child. I will never forgive Yahya Jammeh in this world and hereafter because he is behind the loss of my child who could have been benefiting me currently,” she cried out.
Neneh Babou was pregnant at the time she experienced the witch-hunting exercise in 2009
Neneh is still faced with the fear of not bearing children, confirming that she has not received any support from the government.
Lamin Darboe described the witch-hunting exercise as “politically motivated,” adding that they are suffering while awaiting justice. “I am gradually losing hope because of the delay in reparation and justice. There cannot be any development without justice.
It has been months since the TRRC ended, but still, we have not got justice or received any support from the government.
We are citizens who were accused of what we are not, and we encountered tortured, inhumane treatments and some even died in the process.
The government should ensure that the perpetrators face justice. I can forgive the past, but I can never forget the terrible things I went through,” he explained.
Getting close to survivors, hearing from them and observing their living condition, it is apt to emphasize that they and their dependents really need a range of urgent supports.
Background and nature of witch-hunting exercise
Following Gambia’s transition from a dictatorship to democracy in 2017, a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) was established to investigate the Yahya Jammeh regime from 1994 to 2017, a period believed to be a dark age for human rights in The Gambia.
Theme 12 of the TRRC report titled “President’s witch-hunting exercise” delves deep into the hunt for presumed “witches and wizards” in the country and atrocities committed therein.
Government White Paper (position) on TRRC report
According to the report, “former President Jammeh launched a nationwide witch hunt between 2008 and 2009 where victims were unceremoniously identified as witches or wizards, forcefully detained by the ‘witch hunters’ and security personnel and later removed from the security and privacy of their offices, homes, and communities to unknown destinations.
The witch-hunting exercise was conducted in Kanilai, Sintet, Jambur, Essau, Barra, Mankumnaya, Galoya and was expanded to government institutions.
“The ‘witch-doctors’ believed to be from Guinea Conakry or Mali were escorted and assisted by members of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), members of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), the paramilitary wing of the Police, conventional police officers in some villages and the Green Boys and Girls and some villages were accompanied by Alkalos, residents and APRC supporters.
The TRRC report, that former president Jammeh, launched the witch hunt after the death of his aunt which was attributed to witchcraft.
The exercise was carried out in nationwide resulting to the deaths of 41 individuals while many others fleet for their lives. The TRRC report revealed that the victims were forced to drink bitter or unpleasant herbal concoctions thought to be sourced from “Kubejera” and “Talo” a local hallucinogenic plant identified as toxic to the body.”
Some testimonies at the TRRC revealed that the witch hunt exercise was politically motivated. The TRRC report revealed that witch hunt exercises conducted at different villages and the victims included pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.
“Victims were forced to bathe in a repulsive herbal concoction whilst nude or semi-naked under humiliating and sexually abusive circumstances,” the report added.
The Commission found that at least one of the victims of the witch-hunting exercise was raped while other victims died or suffered from serious illnesses and other negative effects such as nausea, unconsciousness, hallucinations, intoxication, diarrhea and exhibiting strange behaviors following their release.
The report added that victims were, threatened, exposed to guns and ammunition, beaten, tortured, and subjected to inhuman and degrading conditions including the deprivation of food, medical, and attention.
During the process, several individuals were identified as witches and wizards including Yahya Darboe, Wuday Ceesay and Yusupha Saine and were assembled and required to drink and bathe in a witchcraft cleansing ritual or be dismissed.
“Many victims also lost their means of earning a living because they were no longer fit to work. They were forced to spend the little money they had on medical treatment, despite it failing to alleviate their suffering.”
The Commission found that Former President Jammeh, Solo Bojang, the security forces, witch hunters and Green Boys are all individually and collectively responsible for ordering the persecution, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, inhumane and degrading and sexual gender-based violence treatment of hundreds of individuals, leading to about forty-one (41) deaths during the 2009 witch-hunting exercise.
The Commission found the former president responsible for the forced labor of various people in the Fonis and other areas in his home village, Kanilai.
The Commission also found the following individuals responsible for their role in the witch-hunts; Saihou Jallow for his unlawful assault and torture of lamin Ceesay and his role in witch hunts in Essau and Barra.
Ensa Badjie for his role in the Banjul, police force witch hunts. Omar Jawo a senior member of the police in the North Bank Region for his participation in the witch hunts including the unlawful arrest torture among others of Lamin Ceesay of many people which has led to the death of 40 people including others.
Tamsir Bah the OC of Sibanor Police Station in 2009 for the unlawful arrest and detention of Nyima Jarju, and her mother-in-law Fatou Bojang 2009 during the Sintet Witch Hunt.
The way forward
To avoid reoccurrence of such degrading treatment, bring culprits to justice and cater for victims, government and partners should act on recommendations of the TRRC, civil society and victims.
The TRRC report recommends the prosecution of Yahya Jammeh, Solo Bojang and Saikou Jallow for the murder, manslaughter of forty-one (41) individuals who died as a result of being targeted and forced to drink toxic concoctions which resulted in all the deaths.
The report also recommends the prosecution of Yahya Jammeh, Solo Bojang, Ensa Badjie, Tambajiro, Saikou Jallow, Omar Jawo for the inhumane and degrading treatment and torture inflicted on the victims during the witch hunting exercise.
In addition, the said TRRC report makes many recommendations for a range of punitive actions to be taken against those who mistreated people accused of witchcraft.
It is further recommended that the government passes a legislation to criminalize labelling individuals as witches or wizards because of the societal stigma attached to it.
The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE) and Civil Society Organizations are encouraged by the TRRC report to engage in advocacy and awareness programs to sensitize the public and local communities to change the mindset and attitudes regarding the stigma attached to witchcraft to remove negative impacts against individuals accused of being witches and wizards.
On the same way forward, the civil society working group on transitional justice, doubling as victim’s and victim-led organization, recently put out a position paper on the government white paper on the TRRC report.
The government white paper indicated that the government has accepted the recommendations made by the TRRC and will follow due process to bring the culprits to Justice.
The civil society organization led white paper recommends that government should empower the Ministry of Justice to prosecute individuals implicated in human rights violations to enhance justice and deter impunity.
The CSO white paper appreciate the findings and recommendations of the TRRC report, noting that it is now left with government to create a human rights culture in the country that will engage victims and other stakeholders to realize justice.
“It is essential that victims remain in the driver’s seat of the transitional justice process and steer along government’s engagements and actions in the various stages,” the report pointed advised.
The consortium of CSOs emphasized that there are clear international laws which mandate government to investigate and prosecute torture and crimes against humanity, adding that there should be accountability to avoid reoccurrence of human rights violations.
The National Assembly, Gambia’s lawmaking body, has before it a legal document seeking to criminalize labelling people as witches or wizards.
Hon. Gibbie Mballow of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) representing Lower Fulladu Constituency assured that he will support the bill that seeks to criminalize labelling people as witches or wizards.
Hon. Gibbie Mballow promises to support in parliament the enactment of the bill
“I will strongly support the bill. Such a law will reduce the rate of labelling people on issues without evidence. Labelling people on issues that are not realistic and evidence-based needs to stop,” the lawmaker emphasized.
The prosecution of perpetrators, addressing challenges of victims and criminalizing labelling people as witches and wizards through legislation are crucial in addressing such human right violation and deterring impunity.
Despite government’s acceptance of the TRRC recommendations, the victims are without compensation nor is the government implementing the proposed reforms, however, not all hopes are lost with the presence of National Assembly Members like Honorable Gibbie Mballow and others who vowed to support the bill seeking to criminalize labelling people as witches or wizards.
The 6th witness, Fatou Ngone Mbye, who is the mother of late Baby Muhammed has given evidence in court in a manslaughter trial involving her siblings, Sainabou and Cherno Mbaye and a relative, Kibily Dembelly on Thursday and Friday, 6th and 7th of October 2022.
The witness, who told the court that she is a grade 9 student, narrated that in July (2022), they parked their belongings which were carried by a vehicle to the new apartment they rented at Brusubi from Sinchu Alagie.
She narrated that she was left at home to park the rest of the luggage for the second trip when she would join the vehicle to the place while Sainabou, Cherno, Kibily and Sainabou’s daughters – Fatima and Isha had gone with the Nissan Rogue.
She testified that Cherno Mbaye was the driver while Sainabou sat in the front seat whereas kibily and the two daughters of Sainabou were at the back.
“Muhammed was crying because he wanted to go with them. So, I put her in the vehicle to go with them,” she said.
Prosecution counsel asked who Muhammed was and where he was. “He was my son,” the witness replied, “He passed away.”
“How old was he at the time?” Counsel Jobarteh asked.
“He was 2 years 3 months old,” the witness replied.
“I was left at Sinchu parking the materials while they left for Brusubi together with Muhammed who was sitting right behind Cherno,” she said.
The witness told the court that Cherno and Kibily returned for the second trip, but Kibily joined the vehicle that carried their belongings.
She said when they got to Coastal Road their Nissan vehicle was stopped by the police and this was when Kibily and the truck proceeded. She continued that they were stopped by the police because of papers and Cherno parked the vehicle and went to talk to the police.
The witness told the court that she saw many people in their new apartment as she arrived at Brusubi.
“When I reached there (in the compound) Adama was holding Baby Muhammed. All of his body was wet. I started crying – she (Adama Bojang) told me don’t cry. She said the child would be fine. Sainabou, Cherno and Kibily took him to the hospital,” she narrated.
The witness also told the court that Adama Bojang had told her that she poured water over Baby Muhammed.
She was asked about whose care she left Baby Muhammed when she put him in the vehicle, but she said the child was put under no-one’s care.
“I just put him in the car. I did not leave him under anyone’s care. I don’t think they are aware of it because Sainabou was on a phone-call,” she said.
As Gambians raise concerns and allegations following the demise of 66 children linked to imported paracetamol syrups, Director General (EG) of the country’s Medicines Control Agency – Mrs Markieu Janneh Kaira – has admitted that the agency lacks testing laboratory capacity for imported medicines. Mrs Kaira expressed profound concerns about the loss of lives, pointing out that efforts are being made to speed up the availability of a modern scientific testing lab to verify the quality of all imported medicines.
In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, Mrs Janneh-Kaira asserted that the medicine control agency’ s capacity gap in terms of human and material resources is hindering their operations.
“We are working with the government to have a functional modern testing lab. Right now, we rely on the World Health Organization (WHO) certified laboratories abroad for us to have concrete results. Quality testing takes time.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a communique raising concerns about the death of children in the Gambia reportedly caused by cough and cold syrups imported from India.
Responding to the WHO publication, the EG of Medicines Control Agency agreed with concerns raised by the global health body, referring to the global health alert statement as a routine global health response alert in which member countries are informed about health issues.
“They do this worldwide and for all countries. The information they published is definitely the information they received from the government and the medicine control agency of the Gambia,” Mrs Janneh- Kaira said.
She disclosed that all medicines implicated in the WHO alert statement have been immediately suspended and that constant monitoring is ongoing to entirely clear them from pharmacies and drug stores.
“Our team is currently on a grassroot campaign in the communities to talk to mothers and the general public to dispose the said syrups in their possession. With the help of Red Cross volunteers and the World Health Organization, we are doing this house-to-house.”
Regarding the identification of importers of the said medicines, she revealed that some were identified but that the investigation is not conclusive.
She further disclosed that the implicated medicines fall under the category of medicines not registered, noting that they were legally imported into the country.
She assured the agency’s commitment to conduct thorough investigating into the squality of medicines in the Gambia.
The Medicine Control Agency – The Gambia was established by the Medicines Control Act of 2014. It is the body set up by government to regulate medicines and related products. Part of their mandate is to ensure that medicines and related products imported into the country are fit for human consumption. The effectiveness of the agency in doing such remains doubtful doubt since it lacks the required human, technical and material resources to ensure safe medicines in the country.
The Executive Committee of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) under the leadership of the former president of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has condemned the deaths of 66 children in the Gambia due to Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) which, according to local health officials and WHO, is due to contaminated paracetamol syrup from Maiden Pharmaceuticals, an Indian pharmaceutical company.
The Jammeh-backed APRC expressed disappointment in President Barrow’s government and also demanded the suspension of the Minister of Health and other health leaders.
“The actions of the Barrow Government and the Ministry of Health are unacceptable, and actions must be taken immediately by suspending the Minister of Health, the Director of Medical Services, Chief Medical Officer, Director of Health Promotions, and the Drugs/Medicines Control Agency/Regulatory Board,” APRC’s press release reads.
The party also called for investigations to be launched into the deaths of the children and also instigate legal proceedings and prosecute anyone found to be culpable.
“Fully investigate the deaths and persons in the entire chain of procurement of medicine: tests, regulations, and administration of the said drugs. Instigate legal proceedings and prosecute all persons responsible and dismiss individuals who are responsible for serious failings. They must never work in positions of care in our country again,” the release continues.
Jammeh’s APRC further urges the government to apologize and compensate affected families while demanding for full drug control programmes be instituted.
“All affected families and the public must receive full and unreserved apologies. All affected families must be consulted by the government and generously compensated. Full drugs control programmes must be instituted with regular accreditation and tests of all imported medicines,” the release ends.
