Banjul, 3 July 2025: In an exclusive interview with some Gambian health experts and authorities, on the menacing impact of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) in the country, they raised alarm on the escalating incidents of neonatal deaths as a result of bacterial infections.
Haruna Jallow, is Principal Lab Technician and focal person for the fight against Anti-Microbial Resistance. He had this to say: “There is a troubling rise in neonatal deaths from bacterial infection… These deaths are too often dismissed as natural, but not all deaths are natural. Our healthcare workers must be supported to investigate and understand the root causes.” He was commenting on the rise and impact of AMR, to which he expressed concerns about vulnerable groups, especially newborns.
He cited a grim projection from the World Health Organisation that by 2050, if left unaddressed, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually, more than cancer.
On the cause of Anti-Microbial Resistance, Jallow observed a dangerous public trend. He said self-medication and the widespread availability of antibiotics without prescription are fuelling the resistance crisis. “People are buying medicines from street vendors, pharmacies, even neighbours, without any clinical guidance,” Jallow said. “Such practices not only endanger individuals but accelerate resistance across communities.”
Kebba Manneh, CEO of Farafenni General Hospital, also painted a dire picture of hospital realities. “We are facing growing resistance to penicillin and other first-line antibiotics. As a result, clinicians are resorting to expensive third-generation drugs like ceftriaxone for nearly every patient. This is neither sustainable nor safe,” he warned.
He added that many patients remain in the hospital for weeks on ineffective treatment regimens. “This is a clear sign of resistance, and it underscores the urgent need for lab-confirmed diagnosis before prescription.”
By Kumba Leigh
