Panic As 18 Pupils Hospitalized After Eating Government’s Free Meal In Osun State
When 18 students from St. James Primary School B, Owo-Ope, were hospitalised for food poisoning connected to the government’s free school feeding initiative, parents and locals in Osogbo were sent into a state of fear.
On Monday, December 11, 2023, after consuming rice and an egg that had been cooked for them by food vendor representatives of the O’ Meal programme, the school’s students reportedly experienced difficulties.
Iya Taye, a parent of three students at the school, revealed that her kids felt shaky when they got home from school, having vomited and frequently tripped.
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.”
In a video obtained on Tuesday via X, three of the victims were recorded receiving drip.
Narrating how they became ill, one of the victims said they were served rice with egg, after which they started running stool.
Also in the video, mothers of the victims, said they observed 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.
Meanwhile, Osun State Government has begun an investigation into the develoment.
The government also directed the stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the governor, Ademola Adeleke directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him.
According to the statement the victims have been treated and discharged from hospitals.
The statement read, “Osun State Government has ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning at St James primary School B, Owoope Osogbo
“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.