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Tuesday, June 09, 2009
India: Mangalore:
Food Poisoning - Students of Residential School Hospitalized
Source of
Article: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=60978
Sphoorti Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
Mangalore, Jun 9:
Almost fifty percent of the students studying in a residential school in
Natekal near Derlakatte were hospitalized on Tuesday June 9, as they showed
symptoms of food poisoning.
Of the total 58 students from the Muslim Residential School who were
hospitalized, the condition of 14 students is said to be serious. The
remaining students have been kept under observation in a private hospital
near Deralakatte. The principal of the school informed that all the
hospitalized students are recovering.
The school has student strength of 114. There are three cooks in this school
to provide food for the students. The students from the Muslim community,
coming from different places of the district, study in this residential
school.
Students from the sixth to 10th
standard study in this school, where accommodation facility is also
provided. The school functions under the social welfare department of
Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat.
The hospitalized students said that, they started vomiting after eating break
fast. Some of them also suffered from diarrhea. The students had a food item
made out of rice and tea. A banana each is also provided to all of the
students.
Rahim, one of the students, who is in the hospital said, that his stomach
started aching at first and later he vomited. He also complained that he does
not like the food provided at the school, as it is not tasty.
The residential school suffers from various problems. Shortage of the space
for the students is one of the problems of the school. The toilet which is
located near the dining hall and the kitchen, was found to be dirty, as
a result of which it has turned into a breeding ground of houseflies.
Shaida Banu, principal, said that they have been managing the school in spite
of various problems and lack of facilities plaguing it. The food poisoning
symptoms have been found for the first time in this school, she
clarified. She revealed that she too ate the food item to check, but
she did not suffer from any ill-affects.
The residential school, which is in a three-storied building, has ten rooms.
In the first floor, the office room, staff room, dining hall and kitchen are
located. The second floor has class rooms while the third floor is reserved
for the purpose of sleeping by the students.
One of the students said, they do
not have enough space to sleep.
A medical officer from the primary health centre in Manjanady, visited the
school and inspected the water and the food. She stated that the symptoms
were of cholera, perhaps owing to the unhygienic surroundings.
The other students in the school said they did not experience any side
affects like the ones exhibited by others.
A doctor in the private hospital said, the students will be discharged soon
as they are recovering.
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