Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A recent report by the Gambian National Task Force Against Kush paints a grim picture, highlighting a significant increase in cases and deaths linked to the dangerous synthetic drug.

Over the past three weeks alone, documented clinical cases have surged by 20%, with seven new fatalities attributed to “Kush.” This brings the total death toll to 11 in the past four months, with a fatality rate of 9.7%.

Data shows Bakau as the most affected area, followed by Jabang, Lamin, Sukuta, and Tallinding. Alarmingly, 96% of those affected are males, with half being under the age of 22.

The report notes a noticeable rise in cases starting in late February and continuing through June 2024. While the exact cause for this upsurge remains unclear, a potential link to recent festivities is being investigated.

Law enforcement has arrested 107 individuals, including Gambians and foreign nationals, and confiscated a total of 6.03 kilograms of “Kush.”

However, the task force faces significant challenges. One of the key concerns is the lack of adequate financial resources to implement planned prevention and control strategies.

Additional roadblocks include incomplete patient information hindering data analysis, difficulty accessing information on unreported suspected cases within communities, and negative social media influence surrounding suspected cases.

The task force has issued several recommendations to address these challenges, including increased government and partner funding, improved patient record-keeping by health facilities, updated case definitions and data reporting tools, community case searches, and continued nationwide sensitization campaigns.

The Gambian government and healthcare system are facing a critical situation. Immediate action is needed to implement the task force’s recommendations and curb the devastating impact of “Kush” on Gambian communities.