Osun State Government has begun an investigation into the reported case of food poisoning at James Primary School B, in Owo-Ope, Osogbo,
18 pupils of the school
reportedly landed in the hospital after eating a mid-day meal of rice and egg
served to them under the free school feeding programme of the state government.
The incident which happened on
Monday, December 11, 2023, caused panic, especially among parents of the
affected pupils.
A statement issued by the state
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on
Tuesday, said the governor, Ademola Adeleke, also directed the stoppage of
further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations.
According to the statement, the
victims have been treated and discharged from hospitals.
“Osun State Government has
ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning at St
James primary School B, Owoope Osogbo,” the statement read.
"The State Governor,
Senator Ademola Adeleke, directed immediate action when the matter was reported
to him by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Ayodele. The Governor has
subsequently directed the 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. Additionally, the governor has
directed enforcement of food standards and control as well as the auditing of
the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrences.
"Meanwhile, 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 200 while 103 are within the population receiving
food from the O-Meal Programme. A government delegation is also visiting families
of the affected students.
Narrating how they became ill,
one of the victims said they were served rice with egg, after which they
started running stool.
Mothers of the victims said
they observed the foul smell of the egg their children were served when they
returned home from school on Monday.
They said their children
started stooling not long after returning from school, raising concerns about
the food the vendor served them.
A parent of three pupils of the
school named Iya Taye, who spoke to the Nation, disclosed that her children
returned home weak after vomiting and frequent stooling.
She confirmed that her children
started experiencing discomfort after eating the food in school.
“I have invited a doctor to
treat my children. Other parents took their children to the hospital but I have
a doctor relation who helped me. My children are receiving treatment inside,”
she added.
A top source in the school
confirmed that over 50 pupils were affected in one way or the other over the
alleged food poisoning.
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