According to the BBC, Mamadou Djouma Bah was transferred to hospital after his health deteriorated while in prison and later died under the care of his treating physician, as reported by the prosecutor.

The teenager’s father, Mamadou Saliou Bah, has accused the authorities of failing to provide adequate medical care during his son’s detention, urging an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Sickle Cell Disease and Health Risks

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong illness that is particularly common in people of African descent, and it is caused by a faulty gene that produces red blood cells with an abnormal, sickle-like shape, which can become stuck in blood vessels.

Experts say this condition can lead to severe pain episodes in the chest, limbs, back, and joints, potentially causing organ damage; Preventive measures such as staying warm, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking daily antibiotics can reduce the risk of complications.

Arrest and Conviction for Cheating

Djouma Bah was arrested on 15 July during Guinea’s national school-leaving baccalaureate exam after allegedly using his phone. He was one of several students suspected of exam fraud, according to the BBC.

Two days later, he was convicted for cheating and sentenced to six months in prison, with five of those months suspended. At the time of his death, he was serving the remaining one month of his sentence at a prison in Kindia, a city about 137km (85 miles) northeast of the capital, Conakry.

When his health worsened, the teenager was transferred to the regional hospital. His father said that during his hospital visit, the boy expressed difficulty breathing and asked to lean against him.

“Then he looked at me and said: ‘Dad, I’m dying,'” Saliou Bah told the BBC. “Those were his last words.”

The teenager spent around two days in the hospital before being discharged to his home, where he later died, according to officials.

Reactions and Calls for Investigation

Education Minister Alpha Bacar Barry expressed his “deep sadness” over the news and offered “sincere condolences” to the family.

Human rights organizations have also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of the teenager’s death and the prosecution of other students involved in the exam fraud case.

On Wednesday, students demonstrated to protest the detention of their classmates, demanding their release. Saliou Bah echoed these calls, saying, “A student should not be sent to prison. These young people are the future of our country.”

He added, “I also ask the authorities to release the other students who are still detained before they too lose their lives. We lost our son; we lost our future.”