The Gambia government did not just failed in protecting the lives of these 69 babies but actually participated in killing them; yes you get that right. The ministry of health has failed woefully in its responsibility of protecting and promoting the health of the people. There are several factors to that;
The institutional failure is a key contributing factor, looking at our health care system in relation to this tragic incident. It’s with clear manifestation that there is no proper institutional setup that can help prevent such instances from happening. In a proper health care system one would expect to see a proper Drug Control Agency, which should be well equipped in terms of laboratories to test all drugs coming into the country in terms of their compositions as to have an idea about their level of toxicity and not just stop there have a drug surveillance mechanisms for drugs in the market to monitor if any major undesirable effects that are manifesting through the usage of any drug in patients as to whether to retreat the drug from market at the proper time before more harm would be done.
Another aspect is the regulations governing the licenses of the pharmaceutical industry, who are the people to be given licenses to import and sell drugs in the country should be well defined and proper laws must be in place to help monitor and regulate the sector. BUT from this incident is clear that the ministry of health and the drug control agency have no proper mechanisms to regulate the sector and no one should be blamed but the government for failing to put institutions in order to protect the lives of all Gambians:
Corruption a fundamental factor at the center of this disaster and all our disasters remains a major problem and a treat to the livelihood of Gambians. The government’s failure to address corruption in our public institutions is going to cost us more than the lives of these 69 babies. How can drugs be allowed into the country only for them to claim the lives of our innocent babies? It’s obvious that someone in the chain failed to do his/ her work or turned a blind eye to the procedures which were to ensure a safe drug approval to the market.
A proper investigation must be done to determine the actions and the inactions of those responsible that lead to such tragic event.
We have seen that people request for the minister of health or those in the medicine control board to resign and even the president. The Gambia that we all know resignation is a serious crime and is only few of us that dare commits that crime because we are peaceful and law abiding people even to the detriment of our fellow citizens. It is sad that ministerial and directorial positions is where our consciences go to die, because I can’t imagine the blood of 69 lives to be on your hands and still waits to be called to resign and you shamelessly stay in those positions.
I am wishing for the souls of these innocent babies to rest in haven since we denied them a life to live, and I hope their souls continue to hunt all those responsible for their deaths until justice is served:
By Ousman L Camara
Comments