Mukumu Girls School Teacher Succumbs After Days in ICU
A teacher named Juliana Mujema from Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega County passed away on Thursday, April 13, after a short illness.
Mujema, who also served as the boarding mistress at the school, died due to multiple organ failure while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It was reported that another teacher from the same school was still hospitalized.
Mujema had exhibited symptoms similar to three students who had previously died after a disease outbreak at the institution.
She was admitted to Lifecare Specialty Hospital in Eldoret town for treatment of food poisoning symptoms, after being transferred from Oasis Hospital in Kakamega when her condition worsened. Until her untimely death, Mujema had been a teacher and boarding mistress at the High School.
Mujema’s passing marked the fourth death in the wake of a food poisoning outbreak that led to the closure of the school by the government. On Tuesday, April 11, Kakamega County announced that another student had passed away, bringing the total number of deaths due to food contamination to three.
In late March, 72 students had been admitted to Kakamega County General Hospital with symptoms such as stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Medical officers from Kakamega County had conducted an extensive examination and ruled out Cholera, but confirmed it as a case of food poisoning.
Government officials, led by Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, visited the school to inspect the food and water that the students were consuming. In a separate incident, the public health department in Meru County initiated an investigation on Thursday, April 13, into a suspected case of food poisoning at Kaaga Boys’ High School.
Over 101 students from Kaaga Boys’ High School had received treatment for unidentified ailments after reporting cases of stomach aches. Meru County Director of Public Health Paul Kimathi confirmed the incident and stated that experts were already testing water and food samples collected from the school.
The untimely death of Juliana Mujema and the ongoing cases of food poisoning in these schools raise concerns about the safety and quality of food and water being consumed by students.
It highlights the need for thorough investigations, proper food handling practices, and improved health and safety measures in schools to prevent such outbreaks in the future. The loss of a dedicated teacher like Mujema is a tragic reminder of the importance of ensuring the well-being and health of students and staff in educational institutions.
Mukumu Girls School Teacher Succumbs After Days in ICU