President Adama Barrow will address the nation on Friday evening after the deaths of 66 children from contaminated syrups imported from India. 

“His Excellency President Adama Barrow will address the nation concerning the Acute Kidney Injury outbreak in The Gambia at 8:00 PM on GRTS and other media outlets,” State House said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (6 October) issued a global alert over four India-made cough syrups after the products were linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.

The WHO identified the medicines as Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

The products were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had failed to provide guarantees about their safety, the WHO added.

The Gambia’s government has already suspended the use of all paracetamol syrups and has urged people to use tablets instead.