By: Musa O Bah
Scores of victims have reacted to the statement made by the Medical Control Agency (MCA) over the issue of Acute Kidney Injury, more of the reactions come at the heels of the press conference organised by the Ministry of Health and was held at the Central Medical Store in Kotu last week.
Speaking to members of the press on Friday during a press briefing held at the Victim Center in Kotu, Madi Jobarteh said the issue is a duty for them to fight hence the Ministry of Health and MCA want to change the narrative.
“How can the Ministry stand and say the children were affected by contaminated water and flooding, and not the syrups that they drank? The first investigation that was done by the Ministry of Health, according to them is syrups and now they want to turn the table. We want to update all the victims that the flooding information is false,” he dismissed the statement.
He also argued that the Ministry of Health slept until they imported poison into the country without any investigation. “If any drugs or medicine comes into the county killing our young ones, the government should take steps to dismiss the Minister because he is not doing his job he is just there to fill the gap,” opined.
Sheriff Kijera, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the death of the children was caused by the syrups but now he said they want to change the story. Adding that the issue started in July and still the government did not take any step to tackle instead they are just misleading the public.
“The government is insulting us how can they kill our children and give us cheques as condolences? We don’t agree with what the government is saying and we are ready to go to the high court.”
The chairman of the victims, Ebrima S. said “I don’t see any dismissals from any pharmacy or anyone from the Ministry of Health or MCA and the investigation of the police I don’t hear nothing from the investigation. This is a serious issue in the country, we are saying to the MCA and Ministry of Health that the death of our children is caused by the medicine. How can a nine months or six months baby reach the flood?”
Mariama Sissawo, vice chairman of the victims, also narrated an emotional story on how her baby died from AKI saying they want truth and justice for their babies.
