Sadness in Gambia: Dangerous Indian cough syrup!

19 Jul 2023

Sadness in Gambia: Dangerous Indian cough syrup!

Recommended for Preparatory Grades

Once upon a time in a faraway land called Gambia, something strange and scary happened. You see, there were some cough syrups made in India that turned out to be very toxic! At least 70 children got really sick and even died because of these medicines. Can you believe it? It’s like a spooky story, but unfortunately, it’s true.

The parents of 20 of these children decided to take their government to court because they believed they didn’t do a good job of making sure the medicines were safe. It’s not easy for parents to challenge the authorities, especially in a poor country like Gambia. But they wanted justice for their children.

In court, the parents told their stories. One mom didn’t know the medicine was making her child sick, so she kept giving it to him. Another family had to fix a leaking IV drip themselves because the hospital didn’t help. It was really sad and scary for these parents, as their children went from having a simple cough to something much worse.

Toxic Medicines: Seeking Justice

The cough syrups were made by a company called Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India. The World Health Organisation found out that these syrups had dangerous toxins in them. These toxins are usually used in things like antifreeze and industrial solvents, not in medicine! It’s like they put something really bad in the cough syrup by mistake.
Some people say that some companies use these toxins because they are cheaper. But that’s not an excuse to make people sick! The Indian government said the syrups were safe, but the parents didn’t believe them. They wanted the company to take responsibility for what happened.
It’s not just Gambia that has had problems with these dangerous medicines. Last year, in Indonesia and Uzbekistan, about 200 children also died because of cough syrups with toxins. It’s a big problem that needs to be stopped!
Gambia is a very poor country, and they don’t have a lot of money to spend on healthcare. That’s why they have to import medicines from other countries. But sometimes, these medicines can be dangerous, just like the cough syrups. It’s important for governments to make sure the medicines are safe before they are sold to people.
The court case is a big deal because it’s the first time something like this has happened in Gambia. The parents want the government and the drug regulator to be held accountable for what happened. They want to make sure this never happens again to any other children.
It’s not fair that these children got sick and died because of medicine that was supposed to help them. The parents are seeking compensation for what they went through. They want to make sure their voices are heard and that something changes.
In the end, we have to remember that medicines are meant to make us better, not worse. It’s important for companies and governments to make sure they are safe. We hope that justice will be served, and that no more children will have to suffer because of dangerous medicines. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for a happier ending to this story.