dyton mupawaenda
Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
AT least 53 pupils and four staff members from Jameson High School in Kadoma were yesterday morning hospitalised after getting affected by a nauseous and noxious gas whose composition and origin is still being investigated..
As of yesterday afternoon, health officers and police were still trying to find out what happened. The strong stench was also smelt by residents from nearby suburb although it was not clear if any were admitted to medical care.
The Herald visited the affected at Kadoma General Hospital, where they had been taken after the incident.
A Form Three pupil, Vimbainashe Wireless, said the stench was notice at around 7am while they were on the assembly point.
“We felt a stench smell during assembly time and three students reacted to the odour that time although we had nausea-like symptoms. We left the hall to the classrooms and after about 30 minutes, that’s when a lot of students started reacting,” she said. A cleaner, Taongaishe Muwoki who was also admitted at the hospital after getting unconscious due to inhaling the strong-smelling gas said she was grateful to the hospital nurses and doctors who swiftly reacted to them.
Permanent Secretary in the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Mr Joesphat Jaji, who visited the pupils yesterday afternoon with Minister Marian Chombo, said teams were still conducting investigations. Mr Jaji chairs the provincial civil protection unit as part of his duties.
Mashonaland West provincial medical director, Dr Celestino Dhege said the health official administered various life-saving skills including putting the children and staff on oxygen.
The hospital has 15 oxygen concentrators.
“We had to quickly put some of the children on oxygen as they were showing difficulties in breathing and asthmatic attacks.” Medicines were also given to minimise the effects of the unknown gas.
Dr Dhege said the health department has not been able to identify the source of the gas. “There is still a team from the Environmental Health, Kadoma City, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe National Army and Police that is conducting further investigations and observations.
“We have since excluded methane gas after successful tests.
“However, we still want to test for sulphur dioxide and sulphide gases,” he added.
A sample from one of the students is expected to be taken for toxicology tests to help ascertain the course of the incident.
The students and staff are still being admitted at the hospital to monitor them.
Online Reporter