Parents thrown into panic as 18 pupils hospitalised over alleged food poisoning in Osun

Parents thrown into panic as 18 pupils hospitalised over alleged food poisoning in Osun

Parents and residents of Osogbo were alarmed after 18 students from St. James Primary School B, Owo-Ope, were hospitalized with food poisoning linked to the government’s free school meal programme.

On Monday, December 11, students at the school encountered issues after consuming rice and eggs prepared for them by food vendor agents of the O’ Meal programme.

Iya Taye, a parent of three students at the school, revealed that her children returned home weak after vomiting and regular stools.

She confirmed that her children started experiencing discomfort after eating the food in school.

She alleged saboteurs in the school feeding programme, noting that he children are receiving treatment at home.

She said: “I have invited doctor to treat my children. Other parent took their children to hospital but I have a doctor relation who helped me. My children are receiving treatment inside.”

A top source in the school confirmed that over 50 pupils were affected one way or the other over the food poisoning.

READ ALSO:

• JAMB set to introduce verbal reasoning examination for DE candidates
• NAF airstrike neutralizes another notorious terrorist, ‘Ali Kachalla’, others in Niger
• Nigerian student arrested in U.S. for impregnating 4 female police officers (Video)

He said 18 of the of pupils were hospitalised, adding that government has intervened in the matter.

Meanwhile, Osun state government through the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning.

He said the matter has been reported to the government by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Oluwaseyi Ayodele.

He noted: “The governor directed stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations. The affected cooks in the said schools alongside the Planning officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting by Tuesday morning.

“The governor has directed enforcement of food standard and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrence.”

“The government is settling the medical bills of the affected students as narrated by the Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola. The LGEA Chairman who was at the forefront of the intervention efforts disclosed that a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged.

“The total student population of the school is two hundred while one hundred and three are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal Programme. A government delegation is also visiting families of the affected students.“

Parents thrown into panic as 18 pupils hospitalised over alleged food poisoning in Osun

(Nation)