School downplayed our calls on health risks, say students
By dennis-lumiti, April 24, 2023Students of Mukumu Girls’ High School in Kakamega yesterday recounted how the school administration ignored their complaints over poor hygiene that led to the outbreak of a mysterious ailment that claimed four lives.
Students told mourners when they bade farewell to their colleague, Diana Mambili, that they raised issues surrounding the state of water, store and kitchen but the administration never bothered to listen.
“Dining Hall prefects raised this matter with the teachers but they were told that we were not in school for comfort and that we should leave if we were not satisfied with the situation. We chose to keep quiet,” they narrated.
Learners, who spoke to People Daily and asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said stomach upsets had become frequent occurrences and that the administration only handed painkillers to those affected.
They said the students who complained of stomachache were first subjected to pregnancy tests.
“Whenever a student falls sick, she is tested for pregnancy and then given painkillers. She can only be taken to hospital when in very bad shape, and without the knowledge of their parents or guardians,” they narrated.
They said the illness would have been avoided if the administration had acted upon their complaints.
Another student said: “Deaths of Diana, two other schoolmates, and our teacher would have been prevented if the affected students were taken to hospital in time. But the school waited until the situation was worse before acting.”
The students moved the mourners to tears at their colleague’s funeral in Ileho, Shinyalu constituency, attended by area MP Fred Ikana.
Mukumu Girls is set for re-opening on Tuesday, May 2, with the over 2,000 students turning up in phases during which they will undergo guidance and counselling before they resume studies.
Ministry of Education and Kakamega County Government have initiated several measures meant to protect the learners. These include thorough cleanliness, drilling of a new borehole and destroying all the food in the stores.
Sr Jane Mmbone has taken over as the new principal replacing embattled Fridah Ndolo. Due to the Mukumu incident, MPs last week proposed radical changes in the running of schools in order to guarantee the safety of learners.
In a special motion to debate the safety of learners in schools, the MPs made far reaching proposals including regular inspections to ascertain the quality of food and establishment of fully equipped clinics to cater for sick learners and the decongestion of institutions.
The lawmakers, for instance, proposed that the government takes over the role of procurement of food and water to schools, which is currently being undertaken the institutions.
New principal
They also proposed regular inspections of eateries and foodstuff currently stocked in schools.
MPs proposed that the various health inspectorate departments regularly conduct inspections of all foods supplied to schools to ascertain whether they are fit for human consumption.
Members of Parliament also want the government to address the issue of congestion on grounds that the 100 per cent transition had led to overcrowding.
Further, they also want all schools to have a well equipped clinics with a standby doctor and nurse who can attend to learners whenever they fall sick.
While contributing to the adjournment motion moved by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, the lawmakers accused the government of failing to take urgent measures to contain the spread of the “unknown” disease that has hit several schools in Kakamega and which, he warned, could spread further if not contained.
“It is very sad what the parents are going through losing children yet this problem can be addressed. It is sad that the government and the Ministry of Health did not come out clearly to talk about these issues affecting students. We need the government to put in place measures to take care of our students by even having clinics in schools,” Mwale said.
He added: “The ministry of education and that of health need to take the issue of food taken by students very seriously. This is because as of now, it is very tricky and hard to ascertain what food is eaten in schools. We need to know how these foods are stored, transported to schools and kept.”
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha confirmed that contamination of food and water led to the deaths.
Preliminary investigations from samples sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute laboratory in Kisumu tested positive for bacterial infections linked to gastroenteritis (a bacterial infection that causes diarrhoea and vomiting).