The Osun State Government has launched an investigation into the reported case of about 18 students from James Primary School B in Osogbo who reportedly ended up in hospitals after eating a mid-day meal provided by the state government’s free school feeding program.
The Osun State government also ordered that no more food be cooked at the affected school until the investigations were completed.
According to a statement obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday by the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor, Ademola Adeleke, directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him.
The victims, according to the statement, have been treated and 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, along with the planning officer for the O-Meal program, 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 Osun state 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 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 Program. A government delegation is also visiting the families of the affected students.”
The incident, which occurred on Monday in Osun state, caused panic, particularly among the parents of the affected students, who shared videos of their children in hospital beds on social media.
Three of the victims were seen receiving drips in one of the videos obtained by reporters on Tuesday.
One of the victims described how they became ill by saying they were served rice with eggs, after which they began stooling.
In the video, the mothers of the victims say they noticed a foul odor coming from the egg their children were served when they got home from school on Monday.
They claimed that their children began pooping shortly after returning home from school, raising concerns about the food the vendor served them.
