… State government begins probe
Panic gripped Osogbo, Osun State’s capital, following reports that 18 pupils from James Primary School B were hospitalized after consuming a mid-day meal provided through the state government’s free school feeding programme.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, caused widespread concern, particularly among parents who shared distressing videos of their children receiving medical care, as reported by The Punch.
Detailing the ordeal, one of the affected pupils mentioned that they were served rice with egg, after which they began experiencing severe stomach upset.
In accompanying footage, mothers of the affected children highlighted a foul smell emanating from the eggs served to their kids upon returning home from school on Monday.
Expressing worry over the food quality, they urged for a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the Osun State government has swiftly launched a comprehensive probe into the matter.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that Governor Ademola Adeleke immediately intervened upon receiving the report, directing an immediate halt to further meal preparations at the affected school pending the investigation’s outcome.
A statement from the Commissioner clarified that the victims had received treatment and were 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 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,” the statement reads.
