• The committee is expected to come up with findings and present it to parliament on 30 November.
• Parents of the victims and civil society organizations attended the session, and they remain determined to get justice.
The Gambian parliament has assigned its select committee on health, disaster and humanitarian relief to investigate the deaths of more than 80 children after taking Indian-manufactured cough syrup.
This news came during an extraordinary session about the deaths.
The committee is expected to come up with findings and present it to parliament on 30 November.
It is tasked with investigating the causes and the impact of the acute kidney injuries that killed the children after taking the medicine, the potential culpability of the suspected importer and pharmacy linked to the syrups, and other issues regarding legal and regulatory framework.
Police are already investigating the matter and a commission was set up by President Adama Barrow, however, parliamentarians still see the need for a select committee to conduct their own independent investigation.
The ministry of finance has released $20,000 (£17,000) to the ministry of gender, children and social welfare to enable it to lead government condolences to families of victims.
Most parents have rejected the government's outreach and they are insisting on an independent investigation and prosecution of all those responsible.
The concern among lawmakers is that 8,000 bottles of syrups that are still unaccounted for could pose a threat to children whose parents are still reluctant to surrender the syrups to health authorities.
Health Minister Lamin Samateh is under pressure to resign to pave the way for a smooth investigation and restore confidence in the country's health sector.
Mr Samateh has ignored the calls, saying his resignation won’t have any benefit.
Parents of the victims and civil society organizations attended the session, and they remain determined to get justice.