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.

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.

High Court Judge, Justice Jaiteh condemned the Health Minister Samateh’s failure to comply with his subpoena in the latest AKI Court case hearing which took place on 11th November 2024. The High Court Judge has now ordered for the Health Minister to appear before him on 14th November 2024.

The first day of pre trial saw Justice Jaiteh proceed with the trail after a brief break for the Defense to collect his documents to support his argument. However, Justice Jaiteh was adamant as he urged the hearing to proceed citing over 150 cases in his high court to address.

The Acute Kidney Injury legal suit which has seen some 27 bereaved parents claim up to D405 million in damages after their children were killed from contaminated cough syrups, has been adjourned for pre-trial in October 2024.

After months of sitting on the Acute Kidney Injury Investigation Report, the Ministry of Health finally published the report which culminated in the firing of the Medicines Control Agency Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director last Friday 21st July 2023. However, they are not the only MCA Staff exposed in the report for serious conflict of interest.

The Gambia’s Justice Minister informed Parliament that the Government is currently pursuing diplomatic channels with the Indian Government to pursue legal action against the Indian Company responsible for manufacturing tainted medicines which took the lives of more than 73 children in The Gambia from mid-2022 to early 2023.

Bereaved parents of Acute Kidney Injuries submitted a position paper before the Parliament’s select committee on Health, Disaster, Humanitarian Relief, and Refugees on 9th November 2022 debunking a statement from the Medicine Control Agency (MCA) claiming that AKI victims died due to contaminated water.