By Buba Gagigo
A report by the National Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse reveals that Gambia has recorded eleven suspected deaths due to the deadly street substance KUSH.
“In the last three weeks, nineteen (19) new clinical cases have been reported from Health facilities, bringing the total to 113 cases, a 20% increase. Seven (7) new “Kush”-associated suspected deaths have been reported from health facilities, bringing the total to eleven (11) with a case fatality rate of (CFR)=9.7%. One hundred and seven (107) people (5 female and 102 male) were interdicted. Gambians, 29 Sierra Leoneans, 2 Senegalese, 1 Nigerian and 2 Conakry Guineans),” the report stated.
The report also noted that five new cases (3 Gambian, 1 Sierra Leonean, and 1 Conakry Guinean) were registered by the Drug and Law Enforcement Agency of the Gambia (DLEAG), bringing the total to 88. Additionally, 17.486 grams of “KUSH” have recently been confiscated, bringing the total to 6.03 kilograms.
Additionally, the report highlighted that of the 113 reported cases, 102 have been discharged. Eleven deaths were reported outside health facilities, and there are currently no cases on admission.