Health
WHO Urges Alert Over Killer Cough Syrups
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said 300 children have died following the use of contaminated cough syrups in three countries.
The WHO had on October 5, 2022, issued a medical product alert for four items, including Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup, with a specific focus on The Gambia.
On November 6, 2022, it released a new alert that was specifically targeted at Indonesia and concerned eight products: Termorex syrup (batch AUG22A06 only), Flurin DMP syrup, Unibebi Cough Syrup, Unibebi Demam Paracetamol Drops, Unibebi Demam Paracetamol Syrup, Paracetamol Drops (manufactured by PT Afi Farma), Paracetamol Syrup (mint)
Additionally, on January 11, 2023, it released a warning on two items, AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup, with a particular focus on Uzbekistan.
The global health organization stated in a statement that many incidences of confirmed or suspected contamination with high amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in over-the-counter cough syrups for children had been reported by nations in the last four months.
The pollutants, according to the report, are dangerous substances used as antifreeze and industrial solvents that can be harmful even in small doses and should never be present in medications.
“WHO issued medical alerts concerning The Gambia in October, Indonesia in November, and Uzbekistan earlier this month in an effort to increase awareness.
“More than 300 people have died as a result of the instances in these three nations, but at least seven other nations have also been impacted, according to our knowledge. Children under the age of five have constituted the majority of the deaths.
The statement read, “WHO’s medical product notifications were swiftly distributed to the national health authorities of all 194 WHO member-states.”
The global health organization advised all major players in the medical supply chain to respond swiftly and in concert because the occurrences were not singular.
The health organization issued the following statement: “WHO calls on regulators and governments to detect any substandard medical products that have been identified in the WHO medical alerts referred to above as potential causes of deaths and disease and remove from circulation in their respective markets.”
Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us
And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG
