UPDATE | Hospital activated disaster plan after Bainsvlei hostel incident

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – A community health registrar at Universitas Academic Hospital, Dr Mosebi Thejane, has revealed that the facility activated its emergency disaster response plan after several learners from Bainsvlei Combined School hostel were rushed for treatment following a food poisoning incident.

Universitas Tertiary Hospital is under Dr Balekile Mzangwa who has kept the standard very high and professional.

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In an exclusive interview with this publication, Dr Thejane said the first learner reportedly began showing symptoms, including diarrhea, at approximately 04:00 on Monday morning after learners consumed food at the hostel on Sunday night.

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More children later developed symptoms, prompting the school to separate learners according to the severity of their conditions.

According to the registrar, approximately 14 to 15 learners between the ages of 12 and 16 were treated at Universitas Academic Hospital while other learners were referred to National Hospital, Pelonomi hospital and private medical facilities.

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The hospital implemented a one-on-one treatment system where each learner was attended to by a doctor and a professional nurse.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, none of the learners required admission. Two children were treated for hypoglycemia before being discharged.

Most of the learners were discharged by early afternoon after receiving medical care.

Dr Thejane confirmed that blood samples and stool specimens were collected to determine the exact cause of the illness, while environmental health officials were dispatched to investigate conditions at the school hostel and identify possible contamination sources.

The registrar further revealed that the hospital had to provide breakfast and lunch to the learners after discovering that the children had not eaten during the lengthy medical assessment process.

Concerns were also raised regarding communication between the school and parents, with hospital staff instructing the school to inform parents that learners had been taken to different healthcare facilities for treatment.

During our tour at Universitas Hospital we checked all lists and all were fully functional and the facility was clean and properly managed.

Our previous engagements with Dr Thejane while at Albert Nzula in Xhariep allowed us access into the facility and we were able to show the world class facility.

Albert Nzula Hospital records 119 orthopedic operations in 8 months

Department of Education in Free State is dead silent but won’t be as soon as kids die from food poisoning. They will make the loudest noise like they always and even visit bereaving families.

Batho bana ba robetse… see no evil, hear no vele. Department on autopilot and descending .

Tomorrow, we will publish the story of Owami Selepe, 15 year old pupil who almost lost her hand due to corporal punishment by two teachers who were arrested by SAPS last year but to date the department did nothing to them.

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