The Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls High School has been closed for three weeks following the death of two students from suspected bacterial attack.
Key issues that were identified as the cause of the infections are the unsafe water the school pumps from a nearby stream and the use of toxic chemicals for preservation of the cereals at their stores.
The Kakamega County Director of Education, Dickson Ogonya, closed the school on Monday afternoon after a meeting at the school with the Directorate of Quality Assurance from Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the county leadership including Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa, Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale, Women representative Hon. Elsie Muhanda and the area MP Hon. Fred Ikana.
“After wider consultation with the key duty bearers or stakeholders here, we have agreed that we suspend learning from today in order to address the key issues affecting the health of the learners.The school will resume learning on May 2 but that date can be reviewed depending on the situation on the ground,” Ogonya said.
Kakamega governor said water samples and food samples have been taken for laboratory tests and food handlers have been taken for certification.
“Looking at the situation and assessing the fact that over 500 students are out of school on treatment out of a population of 2000 students, we have made a decision in consultation with the school management and the board that learning be suspended in this school for three weeks.” Barasa said.
He added that during the time students will be away, the county health team with support from the National Division of Disease Surveillance and Response and the Emergency Operation Centre, Epidemiological and Laboratory Investigation Programme and the county government will establish a multi sectorial incident management team to establish the root cause of the pandemic.
Senator Khalwale said this was not the first time the case was reported in the school adding that the issues were investigated last year and recommendations were made but they were not acted upon, directing blame at the management of the school.
“We have agreed that this school stands closed with immediate effect, the Principal, the Bursar and some of the food suppliers in the school should be investigated by the EACC to unlock the scandals going on in the schools that have led to the loss of lives of the students.” Khalwale said.
He added that they have had a discussion with TSC so that the school principal, Fridah Ndolo be transferred.
Kakamega Women Representative said a special task force should be formed to look into the predicaments facing the students at the school.
She also asked the county government of Kakamega to extend a supportive hand to parents of this school so that they can get free medical attention from the hospital within the county of Kakamega
The school principal on Sunday confirmed that the school had lost two students in a notice sent to parents.
“We have lost two students Wendy Oyugi Amani Form one West A who passed on in Bungoma and Miriam Namajanja of form two C who had not resumed from half term passed on this morning at their home Navakholo,” Ndolo wrote.
Last week 124 students at the school were admitted at the Kakamega County General Hospital following a diarrhea outbreak at the institution on Wednesday.
13 of them are still admitted at the facility in stable conditions and one is in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the same hospital.
17 others are admitted at the Mukumu Mission Hospital. 559 students had been taken away by their parents and guardians from the school for treatment in various hospitals as the diarrhea raged.
By Cally Imbayi
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