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.

In September 2017, months after President Adama Barrow took office, an Israeli company, International Medical Services (IMS), presented plans to build a $220 million state-of-the-art hospital aimed at turning The Gambia into a medical tourism hub.

Our investigation examined the background of the IMS delegation and the risks associated with medical tourism. While the industry has potential benefits, global health bodies including the WHO and the Royal Society of Medicine warn it can fuel organ trafficking, citing the Philippines as a cautionary example.

This revived report from Gainako’s lost publications revisits those concerns and their relevance today.

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.

Banjul, The Gambia — The Managing Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Mr Suman, faced intense cross-examination in the High Court as legal proceedings continued over the deaths of more than 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated medicinal syrups imported from India. Plaintiffs’ counsel accused the company of negligence and collusion with Maiden Pharmaceuticals, raising serious questions about regulatory compliance and corporate accountability. 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.

This publication aims to give some brief description of Bipolar Disorder in an attempt to sensitize and destigmatize popular belief against people suffering from this mental health condition. More in the report.

The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA), a NGO committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health rights since its inception in 1968, conducted an HIV and AIDS screening event on Saturday, 28th December 2024, at Banjul’s Family Planning Regional Chapter at Long Street. More in the report.