Gambia is recalling the India-made cough syrups with its door-to-door campaign, which according to WHO is linked to the deaths of 66 children in the country. The government has partnered with the Gambia Red Cross Society and instructed several young people to collect the Syrups visiting houses personally.
Gambia Recalling Cough Syrups
Director of Health, Gambia, Mustapha Bittaye asserted that the cause of death among children was acute kidney injury, as reported by the linked press.
The World Health Organisation blamed the four India Made cough syrups that are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup developed by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, a Haryana-based Pharma company.
“WHO has issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in The Gambia that have been potentially linked to acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children”, asserted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, on Wednesday.
“The loss of young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families”, further said.
WHO further informed that the four medicines have been pinpointed but “may have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions.”
“WHO recommends all countries detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients”, further added.
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India Probes Cough Syrups After WHO’s Alert Over Deaths In Gambia
The Medical Research Council Of Gambia Also Issued A Warning
“Over the last week, we admitted a child with this condition (acute kidney injury) … and she has unfortunately died. We were able to confirm that she had taken one of the drugs that are suspected to be causing this, prior to her arrival at our clinic. It had been bought at a pharmacy within The Gambia”, reads the Council’s statement.
“The drug has been identified as containing a significant amount of a toxin which damages kidneys irreversibly.”
On the other hand, the Senior Executive of Maiden Pharmaceuticals has informed that they are digging up the matter and getting all the details from its buyers in the Gambia to unveil the complete scenario of Children’s deaths in the country, as reported by Reuters.
