75 learners in Giyani rushed to Hospital for Suspected Food Poisioning
75 learners from Dzumeri Primary School in the Mopani East Education District, were rushed to Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani after some of them reported experiencing abdominal pains.
The learners were taken to hospital when they fell ill after eating food provided under their primary school’s nutrition programme as well as snacks.
The Limpopo Department of Health Spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, said the pupils have been hospitalised due to a suspected foodborne illness.
“Learners were fed porridge and milk from the school nutrition programme but preliminary reports indicate that they also had fat cakes and sweets,” the department said,
Out of the 75 learners who were observed at the hospital, 11 learners have remained for further overnight observation and are currently in a stable condition.
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In response to this incident, the Task Team established by the Provincial Executive Council a month ago is actively engaged in providing support to all affected learners and their families.
This latest incident comes as the Limpopo Department of Education announced a temporary ban on street vendors and spaza shops from selling foods in and around school last month.
The decision comes as the country is experiencing a surge of food poisoning-related cases, and the ban was allegedly lifted on Thursday.
Schools and vendors across the province were given until 11 November to ensure that they fully comply with strict conditions set out for all vendors.
The team is also conducting a thorough investigation into the food consumed by the learners during the National School Nutrition Programme, as well as any other food sources that may have contributed to this situation.