The father of a 17-year-old student from Guinea who died days after being arrested for alleged exam cheating has told the BBC that he blames authorities for his son’s death.
Mamadou Djouma Bah, who had sickle cell disease, was transferred to hospital after his health deteriorated while in prison. He later died “under the care of his treating physician,” according to the prosecutor.
His father, Mamadou Saliou Bah, has called for an investigation, telling the BBC that his son did not “receive proper medical care” while in detention.
People living with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious infections and may develop anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen around the body.
Sickle cell disease is a lifelong condition that is common among people of African descent. It is caused by a faulty gene that produces unusually shaped red blood cells, which can become trapped in blood vessels.
This can lead to severe episodes of pain, which experts say may sometimes be prevented by staying warm and drinking enough fluids. Daily antibiotics can help reduce the risk of infections, while other treatments may include blood transfusions.
Reduced blood circulation can cause sudden pain in the chest, limbs, back and joints, and may eventually lead to organ damage.
“Dad, I’m Dying”
Djouma Bah, a social sciences student, was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during Guinea’s national school-leaving baccalaureate examination on 15 July. He was arrested alongside other students suspected of exam fraud.
Two days later, he was convicted of cheating and sentenced to six months in prison, with five months suspended.
He was serving his one-month sentence at a prison in the city of Kindia, about 137 kilometres (85 miles) north-east of the capital, Conakry, when his health deteriorated.
The teenager was later transferred to the regional hospital for treatment.
Saliou Bah told the BBC that when he visited his son in hospital, the teenager said he was struggling to breathe and asked to lean against him.
“Then he looked at me and said: ‘Dad, I’m dying,’” Saliou Bah said.
“Those were his last words.”
The teenager spent about two days in hospital before being discharged to return home, where he later died, according to officials.
Education Minister Alpha Bacar Barry said he was “deeply saddened by the news” and extended his “sincere condolences” to the family.
Human rights organisations have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and the prosecution of other students.
On Wednesday, students demonstrated against the detention of their classmates, calling for their release.
“A student should not be sent to prison. These young people are the future of our country,” Saliou Bah said.
“I also call on the authorities to release the other students who remain detained before they too lose their lives.
“We lost our son; we lost our future.”
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