Nyamira food poisoning learners discharged

The majority of students from Ikonge PAG Girls Secondary School who had been admitted to Nyamira hospitals over suspected food poisoning have been discharged.

Yesterday, education stakeholders downplayed the health scare, saying the situation was fully under control.

A team of stakeholders drawn from the ministries of Health and Education visited the school and made a number of recommendations after it emerged that the learners who were taken ill had consumed contaminated water.

According to the officials, only 12 learners out of the 138 who had been admitted were still at Ekerenyo Sub-County Hospital and another private facility within Ikonge Township.

A health team from Nyamira County Government, led by Primary Healthcare Chief Officer Moenga Momanyi, said even the 12 who were still in hospital were due for discharge later yesterday.

Moenga said students who had tested positive for amoeba had been found to have drunk contaminated water.

The school administration confirmed that the water pump had developed problems before they resorted to using an alternative source, compromising the quality of water.

The team of public health inspectors issued various recommendations they said were aimed at preventing a recurrence.
Among the recommendations were the re-installation of the faulty pump, sanitation of water storage tanks and food handling equipment besides fresh certification of all the school food handlers.

Moenga said samples that were taken from the students showed that only a few of them had suffered amoeba infection and dismissed claims that the girls had suffered from food poisoning.

County Education Director Zachary Mutwiri said the ministry will ensure t all the recommendations made were implemented.

Principal Jecinta Omondi said the school administration had contacted parents of all the affected learners and assured them of their safety.