11 children land in hospital after eating food served by Osun govt
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
There was palpable fear in Osogbo, Osun State, after eleven pupils of St James Primary School, Owo-Ope, Osogbo, were rushed to different hospitals in the metropolis after eating what was described as a contaminated meal served them by the officials of the state government under the O’Meal programme.
According to some of the parents of the affected pupils, their children began to experience stomach upset and visit toilets no sooner than when they returned home from school.
The parents added that when the children were interrogated, they disclosed to them that the O’Meal vendors served each of them a plate of rice with egg.
Meanwhile, the Osun State government has ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the state directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Oluwaseyi Ayodele.
The Governor has subsequently directed the stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the finding.
The affected cooks in the said schools alongside the Planning Officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting for today (Tuesday).
Additionally, the Governor has directed the enforcement of food standards and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrences.
However, the state government has settled the medical bills of the affected students as narrated by the Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola.
According to the LGEA Chairman, a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged.
The total student population of the school is two hundred while one hundred and three are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal programme.