Three claims from Cabinet Ministers Dr Ceesay and Dr Samateh that The Gambia’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is on a steady decline have been debunked after the health minister corrected MMR data submitted to Parliament. Askanwi Media's investigation into the government’s claims of a sustained decline in MMR in late 2025 has resulted in a parliamentary inquiry after our request for information was ignored completely.

More in this investigation.

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, has admitted under cross-examination that the agency approved medicines through a process called “Listing”—which does not require laboratory testing—due to the country’s limited testing capabilities. His testimony came during the ongoing civil trial over the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) scandal, in which more than 70 children died after consuming contaminated syrups. Counsel for the plaintiffs argued that the four deadly medicines were never officially registered but merely listed, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight before and after the tragic deaths. More in the report.

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, came under sharp scrutiny during a tense cross-examination at the High Court on Thursday, as part of the ongoing lawsuit over the deaths of children linked to contaminated medicines. The courtroom tension later spilled outside, where Mr. Marenah confronted a journalist for taking his photo and allegedly attempted to force its deletion. More in the report.

The ongoing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) legal battle between some 27 bereaved children against the government and two pharmaceutical companies saw more moving testimonies from parents on how “bad medicines” killed their children. More in the report.

During the continuation of the AKI Court Case hearing on the afternoon of 23rd January 2025, witnesses narrated how their children died soon after ingesting paracetamol syrups prescribed by doctors from the hospital. More in this report.

Our latest publication on the marathon AKI Court case hearing, which took most of 23rd January 2025, highlights how Justice Ebrima Jaiteh accepted the substitution of two witness statements. The AKI Court case has seen some 27 bereaved parents file a lawsuit against the government and two pharmaceutical companies. More in Askanwi’s first publication from the whole day’s court hearing.

Information Minister Dr. Cessay claimed that the 2025 Budget allocates over D5 billion to help. Our reporter got hold of the 2025 Draft Budget to highlight that the Minister had it wrong and only D4.8 billion was allocated to Health in 2025. More in this report.

After Askanwi posted about an unidentified lady around Kerr Serign junction on 19th November 2024, who was behaving erratically towards people in the streets, our reporter and some passersby assisted her to access medical attention, where she was later taken by the Police to Nemban Clinic.

More in this report.

The author of this story shares their experience of visiting the country’s only mental health care facility, Tanka Tanka, which needs significant attention and support from the government to provide adequate care to patients suffering from mental health disorders in the country. Read this article to go inside Tanka Tanka.

High Court Judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh announced on Thursday, 14^th November 2024 that the trial for the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) will begin on 21^st November 2024, pending the submission of crucial documents from the Ministry of Health to support the plaintiffs' claims.