The Gambian parents and famlies of the child victims of the four contaminated syrups imported from Inida have turned down a $20, 000 compensation by the country’s Gender ministry, APA can report form Banjul on Monday.
The World Health Organisation last month drew attention to the death of 70 Gambian infants from the so-called Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) contracted after taking the syrups which were found to be contaminated by toxic substances.
The government has said it is investigating the deaths and vowed to punish those responsible for the process leading to the importation of the syrups which have since been recalled by national health authorities.
Families of those whose children had reportedly died of AKI formed a group to bring pressure to bear on the government to investigate the deaths and dispense justice against those found to have played a role in the importation of the syrups without observing health and hygiene regulations.
Their chairman Ebrima Sanyang said accepting the $20,000 which was meant to be shared among the affected families would be an insult to their cause of securing justice for the young victims.
Meanwhile, the group is also incensed by claims by the government Medicine Control Agency that some of the fatalities were as a result of the floods which characterised the rainy season last July and August instead of AKI.
They said this statement by the MCA had downplayed the seriousness of the issue and called on the agency to withdraw the statement which has caused tension among those directly affected by the AKI tragedy..
Since the WHO issued a global alert to the dangers of using the syrups, their manufacturers Maiden Pharmaceuticals has been suspended in India which said it was also investigating the contaminated items.
Although it expressed regret over the tragedy in The Gambia, it continues to insist that its products follow strict international health standards.
India says the company’s products had not met national safety standards and were therefore prohibited in the country.
WN/as/APA