The Ministry of Health confirmed on May 27 that 101 minors were examined and 57 tested positive for the highly contagious skin condition.
In a strongly worded statement, Jobarteh expressed alarm that such a disease could spread in a school housing children, highlighting what he called a “perennial dereliction of duty” by state institutions mandated to protect citizens’ rights under Section 17 of the Constitution.
Quoting the Ministry’s Facebook post, Jobarteh pointed out that the children “are facing serious health risks, worsened by a lack of adequate medical care at the time of the investigations”.
He held the relevant Ministries - Health, Children, and Justice, along with the Gambia Police Force and the National Human Rights Commission, collectively responsible for the poor conditions that enabled the outbreak.
According to him, the affected children are entitled to the highest standard of living, including access to hygiene, healthcare, and safety, all of which were clearly lacking at the school.
“The outbreak of scabies affecting a large number of children over a considerable period undetected means the necessary monitoring and accountability by public institutions were absent,” Jobarteh stated.
Recalling past incidents, he cited the 2021 Bilal boarding school fire that killed nine children, and the 2022 Penny Appeal abuse scandal uncovered by investigative journalists.
Despite official statements and promises of accountability, Jobarteh argued that no real action has followed. “It is now more than four years yet Bilal boarding school was never closed nor was there any accountability,” he said. He also referenced the 2022 acute kidney injury (AKI) tragedy where over 70 children died after consuming contaminated syrup, another case in which state action fell short.
In light of the current outbreak, EFSCRJ is demanding swift action from government institutions. The organization is calling for a thorough investigation into the conditions at Daara Madina Suwaneh, immediate closure and disinfection of the facility, and accountability for those responsible for its management. Jobarteh also urged for nationwide inspections of all childcare facilities and full enforcement of care standards as outlined by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
He emphasised that Section 199 of the Children’s Act empowers the Directorate of Children’s Affairs to inspect childcare facilities every six months, including suspending operations when standards are not met. “If this was done, these deaths and diseases in boarding schools and childcare homes would have been avoided,” he said.
Madi Jobarteh concluded by reaffirming EFSCRJ’s commitment to monitoring the situation and ensuring that those in authority are held accountable. “Public institutions must be seen to fulfill their purpose with diligence, effectiveness, and efficiency. The protection of human rights must be constant and uncompromised.”
