FDA Says Cough Syrup That Killed 66 Kids In Gambia Is Not Registered In Ghana

Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has noted that the four products from India’s Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited that caused acute kidney failure in Kids in the Gambia and killed 66 of them are not registered products in Ghana.

The four products which include Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makeoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup which contain two toxic products were flagged by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO recommended all countries detect and remove the products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients.

The FDA in reaction to the alert sounded by the WHO said its market surveillance has not identified any of the four products on the Ghanaian market.

“The FDA would like to inform the general public that these products have not been registered by the Authority. Meanwhile, our market surveillance has not identified any of these products on the Ghanaian market”, a statement from the FDA said, adding that “anyone with any information or has seen the products anywhere in Ghana, such information should be made available to the FDA.

The products were found to contain two toxic products namely diethylene glycol and ethylene and ethylene glycol.

The FDA explains that the toxins when consumed can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

It further assured the general public that it has strengthened its market surveillance activities at the borders and across the country to identify and withdraw any of these products should they enter the Ghanaian market.

In July, Gambia recorded high rates of acute kidney disease in children which led to the death of 66.

This was linked to a cough syrup produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, a drug manufacturing company in Haryana, India.

Following this, the Gambian government launched an investigation into the incident.

The same has been initiated by India.

“These samples have been sent to the Central Drug Laboratory in Kolkata. When the result comes in and if there is something wrong then we will take strict action”, Haryana Health Minister, Anil Vij has said.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini