Kenya Education Ministry shuts girls’ school over ‘mysterious’ illness outbreak

 

Ministry of Education in the Western Region of Kenya has temporarily shut a girls-only boarding school, St Theresa Eregi Girls Secondary School located in Kakamega County; following the outbreak of a mysterious illness that led to over 90 female students being hospitalised. 

Local reports stated that the school was temporarily closed on Wednesday after students went on a rampage.

They were demanding to be allowed to go home after their fellow students were admitted to various hospitals on Monday.

According to the reports, a medic during an interview with one of the local news platforms, The Star disclosed that initial laboratory tests had revealed that the students had elevated electrolytes, meaning that they had lost fluids.

Electrolytes are essential for basic life functioning, such as maintaining electrical neutrality in human body cells and generating and conducting action potentials in the nerves and muscles.

Prolonged or severe diarrhoea and sweating can result in the loss of electrolytes.

The county government in a statement published on Facebook has assured citizens that it has taken decisive steps to address the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of the learners.

The statement reads: 

“In a swift response to the medical emergency at St. Theresa’s Eregi Girls High School in Ikolomani Sub-County where students manifest difficulty in walking, Government Officials and local leaders have taken decisive steps to address the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of the learners.

“Representing H.E FCPA Governor Fernandes Barasa on Tuesday, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, Science and Technology Dr. Bonface Okoth alongside the CECM Health Services Dr. Benard Wesonga and other key stakeholders of the school said the Government is committed to finding a solution to the health challenge.

“According to the County Executive, the incident, which resulted in over 95 students being hospitalized prompted an urgent meeting and thorough discussions among all the stakeholders involved with blood samples from the affected students being sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi and Kisumu Counties for further analysis.”

The ministry, following consultations with the School’s Board of Management, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), representatives and the school’s sponsor, agreed to allow students in the junior classes (Form 1, 2, and 3) return to their homes temporarily while students in form 4 remain in school for their exams. 

Students are expected to report back next week once the situation has been carefully assessed and necessary measures put in place to prevent any recurrence of similar situation.

Earlier on Tuesday, parents of the girls stormed the school to demand whereabouts of their daughters. 

 

 

Additional Report: The Star