Osun: Alleged food poisoning leads to panic as 18 students are hospitalized, causing distress among parents

When 18 students from St. James Primary School B, Owo-Ope, were hospitalised for food poisoning connected to the government’s free school meal scheme, parents and citizens of Osogbo were horrified.

After eating rice and eggs that were prepared for them by food vendor representatives of the O’ Meal programme, pupils at the school experienced problems on Monday, December 11.

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Three students’ parents, Iya Taye, disclosed that her kids came home lethargic following episodes of vomiting and loose stools.

She attested to the fact that her kids became uncomfortable after consuming the meal at school.

She claimed that there are saboteurs in the school food scheme, despite the fact that the children receive care at home.

“I have invited a doctor to treat my children,” she declared. Other parents brought their kids to the hospital, but I was helped by a doctor I know. Inside, my kids are getting medical attention.

A reliable source within the school attested to the fact that more than fifty students were impacted in some manner by the food poisoning.

He added that 18 of the students were admitted to the hospital and that the government had become involved.

In the meantime, thorough investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning were requested by the Osun state government, acting through Kolapo Alimi, commissioner for information and public enlightenment.

He claimed that Mrs. Grace Oluwaseyi Ayodele, the Special Advisor on O-Meal, has reported the issue to the government.

He stated: “The governor ordered that all food preparation at the impacted school be stopped while the investigations are ongoing. By Tuesday morning, the planning officer for the O-Meal project and the impacted cooks in the aforementioned schools have also been called to a meeting.

“To prevent such incidents in the future, the governor has ordered the auditing of the O-Meal structure and the enforcement of food standards and control.”

“According to Mr. Nathaniel Ojetola, Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, the government is paying the impacted students’ medical expenditures. The LGEA Chairman, who spearheaded the intervention efforts, revealed that eighteen students received treatment and were released.

There are two hundred students enrolled in the school overall, of which one hundred and three are part of the O-Meal Programme population that receives food. Additionally, a government delegation is paying the impacted pupils’ families a visit.