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Indonesia bans syrups after nearly 100 children die

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The deaths of nearly 100 children in Indonesia have prompted the country to suspend sales of all syrup and liquid medication.

It comes just weeks after a cough syrup in The Gambia was linked to the deaths of nearly 70 children.

Indonesia said some syrup medicine was found to contain ingredients linked to acute kidney injuries (AKI), which have killed 99 young children this year.

It is not clear if the medicine were imported or locally produced.

On Thursday, Indonesian health officials said they had reported around 200 cases of AKI in children, most of who were aged under five.

Earlier this month, the The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert over four cough syrups that were linked to the deaths of almost 70 children in The Gambia.

The WHO found the syrups used there – made by an Indian pharmaceutical company – contained “unacceptable amounts” of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The syrups have been “potentially linked with acute kidney injuries”, said the organisation.

Indonesia’s Health Minister on Thursday said the same chemical compounds were also found in some medicines used locally.

“Some syrups that were used by AKI child patients under five were proven to contain ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol that were not supposed to be there, or of very little amount,” said Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

However, he did not disclose how many cases involved the toxic medicines.

Indonesian authorities said the cough syrups used in The Gambia were not sold locally.

One epidemiologist said the true death toll could be even higher than reported.

“When cases like these happen, [what we know is] the tip of the iceberg, which means there could be far more victims,” Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist from Griffith University told BBC Indonesia.

(BBC News)

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Date announced for Grade 05 scholarship exam

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The 2023 Grade 05 scholarship exam will be held on 15 October, the Department of Examinations says.

Accordingly, the exam will be held at 2,888 centres across the country, Commissioner General of Examinations – H. J. M. Amith Jayasundara said.

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Nadeesha wins Silver at Asian Games

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Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge has won the silver medal in the women’s javelin throw event at the 2023 Asian Games currently being held in Hangzhou, China.

She won the silver with an impressive throw of 61.57m which is also her personal best.

India’s Annu Rani won the gold medal in the event while China’s Lyu Huihui won the bronze medal.

This is the first athletics medal for Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 17 years and only the second medal for the island nation so far this year.

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Fish processing unit at Oluwil to be leased

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The cabinet has previously given approval to reactivate the unused fish processing plant in the Oluwil fishing port premises and provide facilities to the TES (Private) Company Limited to run fish processing activities.  

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries to lease the fish processing unit located in the Oluwil Ports Complex to TES (Private)  Company Limited for a period of 10 years subject to the relevant rent being charged monthly, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee.

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