AKI Death Toll Increases to 72 Children Dead: Two in 2023

GPN AKI Edition Chronicles Parliament and Government’s Response to the Death of 72 Children

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT

The National Assembly conducted an investigation of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Outbreak which claimed the lives of some 72 Children in late 2022 and early 2023. The latest Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter (GPN) highlights that the Minister of Health Dr Lamin Samateh is expected to appear before the Parliament tomorrow 28^th March 2023 to report on his Ministry’s implementation of their Parliamentary Report.

Download the GPN AKI Special Edition on this link 2023-03-27 GPN 7th Edition

So far two deaths have occurred in 2023 with one occurring in January and the most recent one occurring last week Wednesday as reported in the MoH’s report published on 22^nd March 2023.

Since the outbreak occurred the Sixth Legislature summoned the Minister of Health to report to Parliament on 26^th October 2022 after which Parliament’s Select Committee on Health was tasked to conduct an investigation into the outbreak. The seventh edition of the GPN captures the moment bereaved family members of AKI confronted the Health Minister outside Parliament and the moment the member for Banjul South vacated the Chambers after accusing her colleague of “lying”.

GPN Reporters followed a number of Committee sitting on the investigation of AKI. After almost two months the AKI Report was submitted and approved with comments in late December 2022. This edition features findings from the report highlighting some of the breech of Medicine Control Regulations in the country and recommendations for legal action to be taken against persons and institutions responsible for the manufacturing, distribution and sale of tainted drugs from Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

Download the GPN AKI Special Edition on this link 2023-03-27 GPN 7th Edition

In addition to Parliament’s investigation, the seventh GPN edition features the demands of bereaved family members of AKI, the National Human Rights Commission, the Gambia Bar Association and the Female Lawyer Association of The Gambia as well as the Government’s response to the AKI Outbreak.

After President Adama Barrow constituted a Task Force to investigate AKI, GPN reporters tracked the progress of the Task Force Report and the Executive’s actions to address the AKI outbreak. The President promised to send a high-powered delegation to extend condolences to the AKI Victims and a letter noting that D1 million had been allocated to visit AKI victims. Our reporters track how much money was paid to AKI Victims and how and why they decided to return the cheques.

More in the latest GPN AKI Special Edition.

Download the GPN AKI Special Edition on this link 2023-03-27 GPN 7th Edition