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Claim: Neneh Cheyassin Secka, Vice Presidential candidate of the Golden Era Party (GEP), has alleged that 300 of every 1,000 babies born in The Gambia die.
Verdict: False. The claim made by Neneh Cheyassin Secka, philanthropist turned politician, that 30% (300 out of 1,000) babies born in The Gambia die is false.
Available evidence from national and international health agencies shows that infant and neonatal mortality rates in The Gambia stood between 29 and 56 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Full Text
Speaking on ‘Tonya Kesso,’ a weekly current affairs programme aired on The Fatu Network and hosted by comedian Muhammed Darboe, Neneh Cheyassin Secka claimed that infant mortality in The Gambia is rising.
“Every 1,000 babies that are born in The Gambia, 300 (30%) of them die because the hospitals don’t have incubators and no qualified neonatal doctors to help mothers deliver safely.”
Although she did not cite any specific year or data source, Secka asserted that “this is a fact.”
The statement, extracted from the programme at the 1:03:48 timestamp, went viral and generated widespread public interest and concern. Watch the clip for 25 to 26 minutes.
Given the potential for this claim to mislead the public and create unnecessary fear, DUBAWA conducted a fact-check to verify its accuracy.
Verification
DUBAWA reviewed data from reputable national and international organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG).
According to data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), infant and child mortality rates in The Gambia have declined over the years. UNICEF reports that:
“The under-five mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate remain high at 56 and 29 deaths, respectively, per 1,000 live births. The maternal mortality ratio dropped to 289 deaths per 100,000 live births.”
While these figures indicate ongoing public health challenges, they do not support the claim that 30% of babies born in The Gambia die.
A 2023 publication by researchers from the MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRCG at LSHTM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and The Gambia Bureau of Statistics, found that pregnancy-related deaths in 2012 were significantly underreported.
“The prevailing pregnancy-related mortality for the country was 861 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 433 deaths per 100,000 live births used in government policy documents.”
However, this research relates to maternal mortality and does not substantiate the claim regarding infant deaths.
Available evidence shows that infant mortality in developing countries, including The Gambia, is influenced by factors such as malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition, and neonatal sepsis, most of which are preventable or treatable.
DUBAWA also contacted the Ministry of Health, which categorically refuted the claim. The Ministry referred to statements made by the Minister of Health, Dr Ahmed Lamin Samateh, during an interview with QTV.
According to the Ministry, verified data from nationally and internationally recognised sources, including the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), indicate that The Gambia’s neonatal mortality rate is 29 deaths per 1,000 live births.
DHS data further indicate that in 2020, The Gambia’s infant mortality rate stood at 42 deaths per 1,000 live births, a significant decline from 128.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1970.
Additionally, data published by Macrotrends ranks The Gambia’s infant mortality rate at 36.23 globally in 2025, reflecting continued progress in reducing neonatal, infant, and maternal deaths.
Health officials note that these figures indicate steady improvements attributable to sustained public health interventions.
Conclusion
Based on verified data from credible national and international sources, the claim by Neneh Cheyassin Secka that 30% (300 out of 1,000) babies born in The Gambia die is false. Current evidence shows that infant mortality rates in The Gambia range approximately between 29 and 56 deaths per 1,000 live births, far below the figure claimed.
