A report by a Gambian Commission of Inquiry blames an Indian manufacturer of cough syrup for the deaths of 70 children. The results, published in Banjul on Tuesday, confirmed the suspicion previously expressed by the World Health Organization that cough and cold syrups sold in the Gambia cause acute kidney failure. The Parliamentary Panel of Inquiry called on the government to take the Indian cough syrup maker to court.
In October, shortly after the deaths became known, the regional government in the Indian state of Haryana, where Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited is based, banned production.
Autopsy results of deceased children were included in the report. According to laboratory analyses, the medicines imported from the Indian manufacturer were contaminated and contained an excessive amount of the substances ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. The latter has been found time and again in counterfeit cough syrups in the past and led to poisonings and deaths worldwide.
Known as the pharmacy of the world, India produces many medicines cheaply, especially for poorer countries. The Gambia is a West African coastal country almost completely surrounded by Senegal. About 2.4 million people live there, about half below the poverty line. (saw/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
