Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
By Buba Gagigo
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Seedy Njie, believes that the death of more than 66 children linked to AKI is politicised and said Gambians should apologise to the Ministry of Health, after a preliminary investigation in the deaths suggested that the action of the Ministry of Health and health was indeed right.
“We must recognize that, it could have been catastrophic and disaster for this country and the world at large hadn’t been this very important and patriotic citizen of this country in the health sector didn’t raise the alarm. They raised the alarm and the Ministry of Health and the authorities and the health facilities decided to conduct immediately clinical and data assessment and test to find out the AKI and is as a results, the Minister of Health and the Government immediately suspended the usage as they suspected.
“As a result of clinical and data results, the use of Paracetamol syrup and other drugs and we are all aware people in this country politicised it and they (Ministry of Health) were vilified. They were insulted, (and) they were condemned. But when a preliminary investigation suggested that the Ministry of Health and health personnel’s actions was indeed right. It could have been honourable for them to come back, apologise, and recognise this effort. That’s what they’re responsible and responsive government and responsive health sector will do,” the Deputy Speaker said.
The National Assembly is currently debating on the current National Health emergency, which led to the death of more than 66 children in the Gambia from July to date.