The Osun State Government has started looking into the matter of approximately eighteen students from James Primary School B in Osogbo who are said to have ended up in hospitals after consuming a midday meal provided to them as part of the state government’s free school feeding program.
In addition, the government ordered that all food preparation at the impacted school be stopped while the investigations were ongoing.
Following a report of the issue to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Kolapo Alimi, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, issued a statement on Tuesday that was obtained in Osogbo.
The patients have reportedly received treatment and been released 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.
“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.
“In the meantime, the government is paying the impacted students’ medical bills,” according to Mr. Nathaniel Ojetola, Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority. The LGEA Chairman, who spearheaded the intervention efforts, revealed that eighteen students received treatment and were released.
There are 200 students enrolled in the school overall, of which 103 are part of the group that receives food assistance through the O-Meal Program. Additionally, a government delegation is paying the impacted pupils’ families a visit.
The incident on Monday sparked fear, particularly among the parents of the students involved, who posted footage of them on social media showing them in hospital beds.
Three of the victims were shown getting drip in one of the tapes that The PUNCH was able to obtain on Tuesday.
One of the patients described how they started running stool after being offered rice and eggs, which is how they got sick.
Mothers of the victims are shown in the video as well, stating that on Monday after school, they noticed an unpleasant odor coming from the egg their kids had been served.
Concerning the food the seller offered them, they stated that shortly after returning from school, their children began to urinate.
In order to stop it from happening again, they insisted on an inquiry into the development.
