MP Ikana Pushes for State Compensation for Mukumu Girls Parents
Shinyalu Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Ikana has called on the government to compensate parents of Mukumu Girls students who lost their children or incurred expenses for their treatment. This comes after an unknown ailment resulted in the death of three students and a teacher as of Friday.
The Ministry of Health has attributed the illness to the consumption of food contaminated with fresh feces. MP Ikana stated that he will be seeking to compel the government to provide compensation to the affected parents who have spent a significant amount of money on treating their daughters or have lost them.
He expressed his concerns and urged the government to take responsibility for the situation. Furthermore, MP Ikana is also demanding a comprehensive report from the Ministry of Health on the ailment that has struck Mukumu Girls.
The school had been closed on April 3 after the outbreak claimed lives and left several students hospitalized and in critical condition. According to Director General for Health Patrick Amoth, the disease is likely a mixture of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella typhi, which are bacteria known to cause food poisoning and can be present in contaminated water sources.
Further laboratory investigations on grains and pulses for aflatoxin came back negative, ruling out aflatoxicosis as the cause. Amoth also clarified that tests for various viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola Virus Disease, Marburg Virus Disease, Leptospirosis, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Dengue Fever, Rift Valley Fever, and West Nile Virus, were all negative.
However, the Ministry is conducting further analysis on the samples to determine any other potential causes of the illness and will communicate the findings of these tests.
The situation at Mukumu Girls has raised concerns among the public and lawmakers, including MP Ikana, who are calling for swift action and accountability from the government.
The loss of lives and the financial burden incurred by parents in treating their affected children have sparked demands for compensation and a thorough investigation into the cause of the illness.
The Ministry of Health is expected to provide a detailed report on their findings to shed light on the situation and provide clarity to the affected families and the public.
MP Ikana Pushes for State Compensation for Mukumu Girls Parents