The Gambian parliament will on Wednesday hold an extraordinary session over the tragic deaths of 70 children to Acute Kidney Injury linked to contaminated cough syrups imported from India.

In a statement, the Clerk of the National Assembly said that “the honourable speaker is in receit of a letter signed by one-quarter of all honourable national assembly to convened under section 98 (1) (a) of the 1997 constitution, and Order 11 (3) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly to declare over the current National Public Health Emergency which resulted in the deaths of at least 70 innocent Gambian children according to the government.

“Accordingly, Honourable Speaker is convening the said Extra Ordinary session sheduled for Wednesday 26 October.”

The Gambia government is investigating the deaths and has set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the incident.

Earlier this month, the minister of health Dr Amadou Lamin Samateh told reporters that at least 81 children were infected with the acute kidney injury. 

And some of the affected children were transported to Senegal for specialist treatment.

The syrups were found to be made by India-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which has since had one of its factories shutdown as India health authorities launched an investigation. 

The four syrups – produced, Promethazine Oral Solution BP, Kofexnalin Baby Cough Syrup, MaKoff Baby Cough Syrup And MaGrip n Cold Syrup – were only exported to The Gambia. 

They contained high doses of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. 

Its effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

The tragedy has made international headlines as the World Health Organisation issued a global health alert on the four India-made cough syrups.

The WHO warned that their use may result in serious injury or death, especially among children.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba