By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
At least 120 pupils had to be evacuated from the Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ncise, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, after a mass outbreak of food poisoning.
Department of Health spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, said they believe the meal that caused the children to fall ill consisted of meat, samp, beetroot, carrots and beans.
Preliminary reports received from emergency medical services indicated that some children had also reported eating rice and tuna.
He said the learners were ferried to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, the Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre.
Manana said some of the learners were placed on drips, while those in serious condition were airlifted to these facilities. Children were treated for abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea, while some complained of dizziness and some had seizures. Thirty children were diagnosed with complications.
No deaths were reported.
Last year, several hundred cases of food poisoning were reported in schools around the province. These incidents included 340 pupils who were taken to the St Barnabas Hospital after two food poisoning outbreaks at Ndamase Senior Secondary School, also in Ngqeleni.
In other incidents, close to 200 children in Komani became ill after they bought food from vendors outside a school. In another incident in Gqeberha, 30 children required treatment after eating food bought from an outside vendor.
In October last year, following the deaths of several children in Gauteng — later found to be from pesticide poisoning — Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament that the National Department of Health and Department of Basic Education would prioritise food safety in child nutrition programmes.
“This collaboration includes strict oversight of food provided through school feeding schemes and early childhood development centres, “Motsoaledi said.
Eastern Cape Education spokesperson Ceduma Mboxela said health protocols were being followed after the latest incident.
“As you will understand, this matter only happened a few hours ago. We will communicate with the public when the information is ready,” Mboxela said.