School Authorities Urged To Monitor Feeding Of JHS Students

Madam Rejoice Afi Agyagbo, Volta Regional Coordinator of Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), has appealed to school authorities to supervise the feeding of final year students in Junior High Schools to ensure the safety of the children.

The advice follows the incident involving some 21 students from four schools who were treated and discharged at the Ho Municipal Hospital, on Thursday, after they complained of feeling unwell, a day after having their school lunch of rice and beans, with egg.

The students, many of whom reportedly ate their meals later in the evening, are said to have complained of a stomach upset with pain, dizziness and weakness.

Madam Agyagbo said some of the affected students explained that they ate around 1800 hours, which she said, could have caused the problem.

She said those who consumed the meals immediately they were served did not encounter any stomach problems and asked school authorities to help in getting their students to eat at the right time to prevent any health problems.

She said it was, particularly, not safe to keep a beans meal, which had been packaged hot, to eat later.

The Coordinator said a total of 74 public and 23 private JHSs in the Ho Municipality from the national initiative for 20 days.

Mr Raphael Amenyo, Ho Municipal Director of Education, said some of the students who complained were from the Holy Spirit Basic JHS, Royal Praise, New Seed International and Volta Rising Star JHS.

He debunked rumours that some of the students were hospitalised, saying, "No student was admitted in this case, they were all treated and discharged. "
The incident generated a public controversy.

Mr Amenyo said the Municipal authorities met heads of JHSs and they had been charged to supervise the initiative to forestall any safety challenges.

A meeting would be held on Monday with the caterers to chart the way forward, he said.

Source: GNA