Eighteen pupils are reported to have taken ill after eating food supplied to their school by the Osun state’s government-sponsored school feeding programme, O-Meal.
Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke on Monday ordered an investigation into the alleged poisoning of pupils at St James Primary School B, Owoope, in Osogbo, the State capital.
The pupils reportedly became ill after eating food supplied to the school under the state’s government-sponsored school feeding programme, O-Meal and were rushed to hospital.
The Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority who was involved in efforts to tackle the poisoning crisis, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola said 18 pupils were treated and discharged from hospital for food poisoning.
In a statement on Monday evening, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment said Governor Adeleke ordered a probe into the alleged poisoning of the pupils by food supplied by the state government when the matter was reported to him by his Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Oluwaseyi Ayodele.
The statement also revealed that Adeleke directed the stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations.
The statement also indicated that cooks in the said schools alongside the Planning officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting by Tuesday morning.
The Governor has also directed enforcement of food standards and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrences, while the state government has settled the medical bills of the affected pupils.
“The LGEA Chairman who was at the forefront of the intervention efforts disclosed that a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged.
“The total student population of the school is two hundred, while one hundred and three are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal Programme,” the Commissioner added.
“The statement also indicated that a government delegation is also visiting families of the affected students.
