WHO joins Cameroon Public Health officials to Warn Against ‘Naturcold’ Syrup

By Amina Hilda

The World Health Organization(WHO) has recently warned against the propagation of a contaminated cough Syrup known as ‘Naturcold’ in Cameroon.

According to a statement published by WHO on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the product was found to contain an unacceptable amount of diethylene glycol, considered a contaminant.

The acceptable limit for diethylene glycol according to the Organization is no more than 0.10 percent, whereas about 28.6 percent of it was identified in samples of the said syrup.

“Samples of the NATURCOLD syrup from Cameroon were made available to WHO on 27 June 2023 and analysed in a WHO contracted and prequalified laboratory. The analysis found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol as contaminants. Diethylene glycol was detected in samples of NATURCOLD as much as 28.6%. The acceptable limit for Diethylene Glycol is no more than 0.10%,” the WHO said in a statement

In a press release made public on March 9, the regional delegate for public health in the South- West, Dr. Eko Eko, already informed Cameroonians about the danger of Naturcold syrup for the health of children. Three children lost their lives in the South West after drinking the syrup.

On April 13, it was the turn of Dr. Kingsley Che Soh, North West regional health delegate, to sound the alarm following the death of six children under five years of age from the same drug.

Then on April 19, the Minister of Public Health specified in a press release that this product was not authorized in Cameroon. He urged medical professionals and the population to be more Vigilant.

Already 10 children died in Cameroon because of Naturcold children’s syrup. The latest case is that of 11- month- old Jonathan, who died of acute kidney failure at the Douala General Hospital.

The medical practitioner who consulted him prescribed the product in question in order to relieve him of his pain. Jonathan’s condition however kept deteriorating and he subsequently died.

WHO has equally warned against a possible spread of the contaminated product to neighbouring country, Nigeria.